"Threatens the Whole Project for Criminal Justice Reform"

"A struggling Christie—who, along with Huckabee and Cruz, lags far behind in the polls—has picked up on this, and run with it. On Tuesday, during an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, the New Jersey governor slammed Democrats on crime. 'It's the liberal policies in this city that have led to the lawlessness that's been encouraged by the president of the United States,' he said. 'And I'm telling you, people in this country are getting more and more fed up.' Likewise, on Fox News, he blasted President Obama’s rhetoric—or alleged lack thereof—on police killings. 'The president says little or nothing about these issues where police officers are being hunted,' claimed Christie.

"This isn't true. But that doesn't mean Christie can't find traction."

Jamelle Bouie in Slate notes the reemergence of the politics of crime.