Christie to Palin: Go off the cuff

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Wednesday criticized the media strategy of former 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, saying she needs to go unscripted more often.

Christie said Palin needs to engage with the public and the media, rather than speak publicly through means such as her Facebook page and Twitter. He said such exchanges are necessary to sharpen her political skills should she want to run for president.

The governor told The New York Times that he had not seen Palin's video released Wednesday, in which she accused the media of committing "blood libel" in its coverage of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). But he said she needs to change course.

“I think people need to be judged by the way they conduct themselves in the public arena, in a way that is as minimally staged as possible,” he said. “That’s where you really get to know people.”

Christie went as far as to say that if she continues to avoid such situations, "she’ll never be president."

Palin's video has again sparked debate over her possible presidential campaign in 2012.

Provocative and unpredictable, Palin is adept at capturing the attention of the political media, and several major conservative voices have defended her remarks. But some Republicans in Washington are wary of her winning the presidential nomination, privately saying the 2012 nominee must be steady and equipped to debate Obama on the issues.

Though he has denied interest, Christie has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for president and vice president in 2012. The New Jersey governor has built a national political profile in part by promoting YouTube videos of him debating critics in public forums.

When the Times mentioned that Palin likes to communicate through direct media, Christie said that approach has "rightfully has been criticized."

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