Christie ya tiene sustituto: Eric Cantor

POLITICO.com:

Chris Christie's departure has left most of the Republican Party resigned to a choice between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, but there are holdouts, and some of those holdouts are, I'm told, carrying a torch for a new figure: Eric Cantor.

The House Majority Leader, subject of a big New York Magazine profile this week, has given no indication at all that he'd run for president, and this seems extremely unlikely to change.

Nonetheless: "You’ve got a lot of the same guys who were looking at Christie who still thinks there’s an opening," said a prominent Republican operative. "A lot of their attention is focused on Eric. He’s telegenic, the president is elevating his profile, and he’s somebody that serious people feel could enter into this race and fill some of the gaps."

Cantor's base among pro-Cantor's Israel and Jewish donors — many of whom were holding out hope for Christie — is particularly enthused.

"I want somebody who I know is pro-business, who I know is pro-Israel, who I know is a leader, as opposed to somebody who just tells me he is," said Barry Sobel, an Atlanta banker and Cantor admirer and donor who supported Rudy Giuliani in 2008.

"Whether as president or vice president, I would be excited either way. The only problem if he runs is I’d have to quit my job and start campaigning," he said.