Christie Talked Gov Bid with Rove While US Atty

This isn't necessarily a game-changer, but with New Jersey's Democratic Governor Jon Corzine already narrowing his deficit against Republican Chris Christie, this news isn't likely to make the GOP too happy.

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove says he spoke with then-U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie about his interest in running for Governor, according to testimony Rove gave to the House Judiciary Committee last month.

"I talked to him twice in the last couple of years, perhaps one time while I was at the White House and once or twice since I left the White House, but -- not regarding his duties as U.S. Attorney, but regarding his interest in running for Governor, and he asked me questions about who -- who were good people that knew about running for Governor that he could talk to," Rove told the panel.

[...]

Rove said he "vaguely" recalls Christie looking into allegations against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) before the 2006 election, but testified that he had no personal communications with Christie or anyone at the Department of Justice or the White House Counsel's office about the Menendez investigation.

Asked if the timing of the investigation was favorable to Republicans in the election, Rove said "I suspect so."

Christie is running as a tough-on-corruption prosecutor, the type of Republican voters in the traditionally Democratic New Jersey could support. So to the extent that this document release undercuts that image -- as it appears to, with Rove both indicating that Christie viewed the post as a stepping stone and that he also used the post to pursue political investigations -- it creates an opening Corzine to portray Christie as just another Republican.



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More of the same (none / 0)

A New Jersey politician with a conflict of interest? Never!


Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?
by Nathan Empsall on Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 01:12:11 AM EST

Re: Christie Talked Gov Bid (none / 0)

Corzine is running some fascinating new ads against Fatso.  A picture of Bush hangs behind him in the new ads, which accuse him of being a Bush flunky.  Bush once again is a campaign asset for Dems.


by Bob H on Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 06:38:10 AM EST

Christie cripples gubernatorial bid (none / 0)

This race will get incredibly ugly, because Republicans actually believed they were going to win it. They should continue to spend all their money in Jersey because the state can really use the money (and NYC benefits as well). Republicans are not especially bright, so when one of them gets caught as Christie has that trait starts to radiate. Jersey knows it's too big and important to get stuck with someone like Christie as Governor. So Corzine doesn't give anyone the warm and fuzzies, but I have to say he's the one I want getting Jersey out of the mess that Bush got it (and the country) into. People will realize that they aren't made at acorzine, they are just and still suffering from Bush and nasty and wrong Republican policies.


by Jeter on Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 11:59:09 AM EST


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