(CNN) -- As New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie fights back against the biggest political controversy of his career, he's under fire, as expected, from opportunistic attacks from the left. Begala: Three reasons bridge scandal will stick Cupp: Christie apology hits all the right notes But there are plenty within his own party who may also be pleased to see the tough-talking Republican governor get a bit of a comeuppance. The party's conservative base has never warmed to Christie. And he angered other Republicans with his 2012 Republican National Convention speech that was more about him than the party's nominee Mitt Romney.
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The GOP's conservative base has never warmed to Christie
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Christie's public embrace of President Obama in 2012 hurt him with Republicans
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GOP Sen. Rand Paul, a tea party favorite seemed to take a dig at Christie
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But a GOP strategist says: "I do not believe there's going to be any retribution from conservatives over this"
But the current controversy, born during that re-election drive, gives opponents an opportunity to spin @placeholder persona of a tough-talking politician into one of a political bully who's not above petty politics.