Chris Christie

If oddsmakers were infallible psychics, the next presidential election will pit Hillary Clinton against former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, or New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - and Clinton will win. The Democrat's chances vary from 5-2 to 9-2 with 11 online bookmakers, while the nearest Republicans, in various rankings, rate no better than 6-1, according to www.oddschecker.com . Her closest competitors...

The fight for the New Jersey governor's seat is to heat up on the airwaves Wednesday as Gov. Christie launches his first TV ad of the campaign - a $1.2 million, 60-second spot on jobs, education and taxes, with a hint of Sandy imagery. "Four years ago, New Jersey was broken: runaway spending, the nation's highest taxes, and unemployment on the rise," the narrator says. "Then we elected Chris Christie. He made the tough decisions to get New Jersey back on track. " The ad notably does not mention the name of the Republican governor's presumptive Democratic challenger, State Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex)

A LOOK AT TUESDAY'S highlights from the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. 2 p.m. * RNC Chairman Reince Priebus * Roll call of the states to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates. 7 p.m. * House Speaker John Boehner * Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum 8 p.m. * Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker 9 p.m. * South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley 10 p.m. * Ann Romney * Keynote address from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Follow @CloutCon on Twitter for more.

TRENTON - Synthetic marijuana is now banned in New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill Monday that would ban fake marijuana, which is sold under names like "K2," "Spice" and "Space Cadet. " Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the ban. Christie's administration had already restricted access to the drugs last year by classifying them as controlled dangerous substances. Under the new law, people who make, distribute or possess them could face up to 10 years in prison.

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee voted, 12-0, Tuesday to retain Col. Rick Fuentes as head of the New Jersey State Police. Fuentes cited numerous accomplishments by the state police under his tenure, such as being granted a new accreditation. He detailed his efforts to combat the force's high retirement rate and to crack down on alcohol-related incidents involving state troopers. Fuentes was appointed in 2003 by Gov. James E. McGreevey and reappointed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

WITH ONE WEEK to go, here are the ups and downs of Campaign 2012: UP - Chris Christie (left): New Jersey governor puts politics aside, will tour storm damage Wednesday with President Obama. UP - Al Gore: If someone's going to use Hurricane Sandy for political gain, at least he's talking about climate change. DOWN - Mitt Romney: In a memo to reporters, he takes out of context an Ed Rendell line about a "startling upset" being possible in Pennsylvania. DOWN - Donald Trump: Because of Sandy, he delays deadline for ridiculous stunt to get Obama to release records in exchange for $5 million to charity.

IS GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE running for national office? Yesterday he answered with a definitive "no. " It's not the first time he's said it, in so many words. * Nov 4, 2010: "Short of suicide, I don't really know what I'd have to do to convince you people that I'm not running [for president]. I'm not running!" * Nov 24, 2010: "Can you see me as anybody's vice president?" * Feb 16: "Apparently, I actually have to commit suicide to convince people I'm not running. " * May 3: "I got enough damn problems in New Jersey.

Whitney Houston officially died of accidental drowning, according to the Los Angeles Coroner's office, that was aggravated by heart disease and cocaine use. Houston had a pre-existing heart condition called atherosclerotic heart disease and the coroner's office found cocaine in the pop diva's system but refused to comment on the level. But the levels indicated that she was a chronic user of the drug. Houston was found underwater and unconscious in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hills Hilton on Feb. 11. Pictures obtained by TMZ also showed champagne, beer and prescription drugs in her hotel room but coroner's officials said they were not in excessive quantities.

WE DON'T care whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie runs for president. But we are inspired by the Republicans' willingness to keep recruiting candidates when the ones they have don't satisfy them. Here are recruiting offers we'd make: For schools chief: Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. runs the best organization in town. Come on, Ruben! Hit a home run for education! For City Council: Replace them with the gang from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. " Similar effectiveness, much more hilarity.

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie says he's not offended by the profanity-laced tirade directed at him by the Democrat who leads the New Jersey Senate. The Republican governor says he and Senate President Stephen Sweeney have "a passionate relationship," so things said in the heat of emotional battle should be forgiven. Sweeney exploded after Christie cut $1.3 billion from the budget Democrats had sent him. The cuts included programs for AIDS patients, sexually abused children and blind students.