Who Is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie?

April 6, 2011— -- Less than two years ago, Chris Christie was an unknown on the national political stage. Today, the governor of New Jersey is one of the brightest stars in the Republican Party, courted by likely presidential candidates and wildly popular with the party's conservative base.

Watch Diane Sawyer's interview with Chris Christie tonight on "ABC World News" and at ABCNews.com/WN.

Christie's rapid rise has come in large part thanks to his brash style, confronting New Jersey's major budget woes with an austerity program. His take-no-prisoners approach with teachers' unions and other public officials has rallied supporters and drawn plenty of controversy.

The New York Times has described Christie as "slick as sandpaper," but his bold personality is also popular.

Peggy Noonan, writing in the Wall Street Journal, said that Christie's "big, rumpled, garrulous, Jersey-blunt" style "has captured the imagination of the political class, and also normal people. They look at him and think, 'I know that guy. I like that guy.'"

Christie was elected New Jersey's governor in November 2009, defeating incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine.

Neither a Tea Party Republican nor part of the Beltway establishment, Christie came to power as states across the country confronted vast budget shortfalls.

In his own state, Christie helped reduce the state's multi-billion dollar budget deficit through fiscal reforms, layoffs and tough cuts to education and other state services. Last year, the governor signed a state budget that was the smallest in five years.

As the governor of one of the bluest of blue states, Christie's national popularity and reputation are based more on those fiscal positions and far less on his positions on social issues like abortion, which he opposes, and civil unions, which he supports.

Perhaps none of Christie's actions as governor have drawn more attention than his ongoing battle with New Jersey's powerful teachers' unions. The unions have become a principal target, with the governor criticizing both teachers' pay and performance.