Chris Christie leaves Bridgegate behind and heads for Texas to raise GOP money
Chris Christie is coming to Texas to raise some money – and it’s not a bridge he wants to sell you. The embattled New Jersey governor is head of the Republican Governors Association, so his trip to Texas is part of a nationwide effort to raise money for fellow GOP governors as well as to show party leaders he’s still a viable political figure for the future. Christie is considered a potential presidential nominee for 2016. But investigations into the “Bridgegate” scandal in his home state over questions whether his administration sought to punish political foes by tying up traffic on the George Washington Bridge have jolted those prospects.
Christie will be in Dallas and Fort Worth on Thursday for Republican governor fundraisers. He’s also planning on trips to Illinois, New York, Maryland, Georgia and Washington DC to raise money for the RGA. A planned stop at the Conservative Political Action Conference – or CPAC – in Washington will be an opportunity to show that he’s not damaged goods politically. Conservatives in the party haven’t been keen on Christie since his embrace of President Obama and federal assistance to New Jersey in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Likely GOP gubernatorial nominee Greg Abbott will not join Christie. An aide said Abbott will be in Houston as part of a statewide series of appearances on immigration. The RGA was a major donor to Gov. Rick Perry when he ran for reelection. No word on whether Perry — who’d like to run for president again – will attend. Both Perry and Abbott have focused considerable appeal to the party’s conservative wing that is skeptical of Christie.
Christie has said he didn’t know in advance about his aides’ orders to close lanes leading to the bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey in September. Some aides were disciplined, but several investigations are underway.
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/02/chris-christie-leaves-bridgegate-behind-and-heads-for-texas-to-raise-gop-money.html/
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