News that Gov. Chris Christie underwent stomach surgery as part of an aggressive weight loss program has reignited speculation about his intentions in 2016. I’ve always thought that his girth would make it impossible for him to run for the presidency, not because Americans wouldn’t vote for a fat candidate, but because I never thought he’d have the physical stamina for the grueling pace of a presidential campaign. Assuming his weight loss regimen is effective and he has similar results to New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, Christie could be more than 100 pounds lighter by the time he has to start campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire. So, that at least makes him a more plausible contender.

Christie has a number of things going for him as a potential candidate. Winning reelection by a wide margin in a blue state would help him make a strong pitch to Republicans that he can expand the electoral map. He could argue that his victories over public sector unions shows he’d be willing to tackle tough national issues, such as entitlements, as president. But he’ll also face a ton of problems, especially when it comes to winning the Republican nomination.