Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ), who is widely expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, may have just harmed his chances by signifying his support for the policies of ultra-liberal New York governor – and possible 2016 Democratic opponent – Andrew Cuomo. Talking with union leader Larry Bulman, political director for United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters, Christie reportedly said, “I’m not much different from Andrew Cuomo. I probably agree with him on 98% of the issues.”

Christie leans liberal on a myriad of issues. While he maintains that he supports traditional marriage, that position is clearly malleable for him; he grandstands when it comes to federal disaster funding; he has ties to groups that are questionable in terms of Islamism; his anti-union rhetoric masks the fact that he gets along quite well with most of the unions in his state, including the much-maligned teachers unions; he blasts the NRA on a regular basis.

Christie will have trouble in early 2016 primaries. But he is taking the John McCain/Mitt Romney path to glory: move left before the primaries, move right during the primaries, and then attempt to move left again before the general election.

Ben Shapiro is Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the book “Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America” (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013). Follow him at Twitter @benshapiro.