GOP ponders scandal's toll on Christie's future


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Fellow Republicans on Saturday debated the fallout over new suggestions that Gov. Chris Christie knew about a traffic-blocking operation orchestrated by top aides as apparent political payback earlier than he has acknowledged.

Some said the accusations could derail hopes of Christie running for president in 2016 if he can't shake the scandal soon, while others were quick to express faith in the governor while discrediting his accuser and questioning his motives.

A letter released Friday by a lawyer for a former Christie loyalist who ordered the closures on the heavily traveled George Washington Bridge said evidence exists that the governor knew about the closings as they happened in September, which would contradict Christie's previous assertions. The governor's office has denied the claims by David Wildstein, a former executive with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who was among four people who lost their jobs in the scandal.





Matt Mackowiak, a Texas-based Republican consultant, agreed that Christie's chances on a national stage won't be harmed so long as he has been honest about what he knew.


Christie, who has kept mostly to the sidelines during the run-up to this year's Super Bowl, which his state his hosting, received a smattering of boos and some cheers during a pre-game ceremony in New York on Saturday. He didn't appear affected by the crowd's reaction during the Times Square ceremony.

As the new head of the Republican Governors Association, Christie's priority this year is raising money for the party's gubernatorial candidates around the country. Republicans maintain that donors are staying loyal to Christie so far.

"My donors are saying they believe what Gov. Christie is saying. They're giving him a lot of rope," said Ray Washburne, who leads the Republican National Committee's fundraising effort.

"He's not raising money for himself," Beynon added. "If you're a donor in Cleveland, you're thinking about (Ohio Gov.) John Kasich and not Chris Christie."







Wildstein has been identified as the person who ordered the lane closings. He resigned from a $150,000-per-year job that he got with Christie's blessing because of the scandal.

"Any time you have disgruntled employees leave an operation you always wonder what's going to happen," Mackowiak said. "You could see this coming. Their lives have changed forever."




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