New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Mel Evans/AP

What Chris Christie's Got: Crossover Appeal

The N.J. governor is the GOP's best 2016 presidential candidate, numbers suggest.

Public Policy Polling's new national survey paints a rather unprecedented picture for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's 2016 aspirations -- one that is alternatively beneficial and uncomfortable.

According to PPP, Christie earns favorable ratings across political ideologies, something that hasn't been seen in a potential presidential nominee since Republican John McCain in 2008.

Overall, 40 percent of Democrats, 41 percent of Republicans, and 45 percent of Independents view Christie favorably. He is the only potential 2016 candidate who earns favorable views across party lines, something that PPP never found in the 2012 presidential race, according to the firm's director Tom Jensen.

Read the rest at TheAtlantic.com.