4 reasons why Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump's presidential candidacy on Friday in Texas, a stunning development sure to add to the growing sense of inevitability around Trump's bid for the Republican nomination.

The only question anyone was asking in the wake of the endorsement was "why"? Or, more accurately, "WHY??!?" After all, Christie had savaged Trump as unelectable just a few weeks ago. So, why the abrupt about-face?

I have four ideas that I think make sense.

1. Christie is a political realist. Anyone not named "Marco Rubio" or "Ted Cruz" can see how this Republican primary race likely ends. And that's with Trump as the GOP nominee. (The math is close to conclusive.) Why not get on board now with Trump and perhaps reap the rewards rather than continue to fight a battle that looks increasingly unwinnable? Christie, like most successful politicians, is a pragmatist, not an idealist. And, for him, this was the most pragmatic move.

2. Christie wants to be in the vice presidential mix. This is the rapidly congealing conventional wisdom aimed at explaining Christie's endorsement. And, while I think it's not the only reason that Christie did what he did, it's absolutely a factor. Christie is term limited out as governor of the Garden State in 2017 and clearly would like to keep up a profile on the national stage. By endorsing Trump right now -- the real estate mogul is on the verge of seizing a commanding lead on SuperTuesday -- Christie puts himself in position to be considered for the national ticket. (I wrote a piece about Trump's vice presidential list earlier this week; Christie didn't make the cut then but would now.) And, even if Christie doesn't wind up as the VP pick, he'd likely be in line for a cabinet post -- Attorney General? -- in a Trump administration.

3. Christie hates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. Throughout the campaign, you could see Christie's resentment toward Marco Rubio building. The New Jersey governor viewed the Florida Senator as a central casting candidate who always said the right things and looked the right way but, when you scratched the surface, you found nothing there. Christie's famous/infamous takedown of Rubio in the New Hampshire debate just before that state's primary was a culmination of that anger.

As for Cruz, Rubio views him as the epitome of everything that's wrong with politics -- a guy who made his name by obstructing things in Washington. Plus, Cruz's outfront social conservatism makes him a mismatch for Christie.

If you think there are only three candidates who have any chance at all of being the nominee and you actively don't like two of them, then you are left with Donald Trump.

4. Christie has a personal relationship with Trump. In announcing his endorsement, Christie noted that he has known Trump for a number of years and that the two men have worked together effectively in the past. Makes sense. As the governor of New Jersey, Christie likely had more interactions with Trump than anyone else who is running (or did run) for the Republican nomination. "Donald Trump is someone who when he makes a promise, he keeps it," Christie said. "No one is going to get inside this guy's head. There is no better fighter than Donald Trump." That's standard political rhetoric but slightly more believable from Christie than from most politicians in regards Trump.

Previously:

• 02/26/16: Winners and losers from the 10th Republican presidential debate
• 02/24/16: Donald Trump is on course to win the 1,237 delegates he needs to be the GOP nominee
• 02/23/16: This Donald Trump explanation of his Iraq position is just so mind-boggling
• 02/22/16: Jeb Bush never really had a chance in the 2016 presidential race
• 02/18/16: Senate Republicans will never hold a Supreme Court vote this year. This poll shows why
• 02/17/16: South Carolina isn't Bush Country anymore
• 02/12/16: Winners and losers from the 6th Dem debate
• 02/10/16: Winners and losers from the New Hampshire primary
• 02/06/16: Winners and losers from the fifth Democratic presidential debate
• 01/29/16: Winners and losers from the 7th Republican presidential debate
• 01/27/16: Ranking the Republican 2016 field
• 01/25/16: Trump is the favorite to be the Republican nominee. Period
• 01/22/16: Who had the worst week in Washington? Hillary Clinton
• 01/18/16: Feeling bad for Jeb Bush
• 01/15/16: Winners and losers from the sixth Republican presidential debate
• 01/12/16: Here's exactly how Bernie Sanders can beat Hillary Clinton
• 01/11/16:The fantasy scenario that could become reality for Hillary
• 12/30/15: The five big lessons from a weirdly watchable year of politics
• 12/21/15: Winners and losers in the third Democratic presidential debate
• 12/16/15: Winners and losers from the 5th Republican presidential debate
• 12/16/15: Cruz, not Trump, looking like GOP favorite for 2016
• 12/04/15: Ted Cruz is the sleeping giant in the Republican race
• 11/24/15:Trump is leading an increasingly fact-free 2016 campaign
• 11/23/15: A ranking of GOP presidential candidates who can still make a case --- and the nominee
• 11/16/15: The remarkably unappealing anger of Donald Trump
• 11/11/15: Winners and losers from the fourth Republican debate
• 11/02/15: Jeb Bush says he still doesn't get why his terrible debate performance matters so much
• 10/29/15: Winners and losers from the third Republican presidential debate
• 10/22/15: Paul Ryan might be saving his party. But at what cost?
• 10/20/15: Six things we know Joe Biden is thinking
• 10/19/15: Who had the worst week in Washington? Lincoln Chafee
• 10/14/15: Winners and losers from the first Dem presidential debate

Comment by clicking here.