New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie seems to be increasing his attacks on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in light of Mr. Gingrich’s victory in the South Carolina Republican primary election this weekend.
During an appearance on “Meet The Press” Sunday, Governor Christie called Mr. Gingrich an “embarrassment” to the Republican party and was critical of his record as speaker and as a “lobbyist” for Freddie Mac. The New Jersey Republican endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in October and has been one of his most vocal supporters both on the campaign trail and in the media in recent weeks.
During an appearance with Mr. Romney in Iowa, Mr. Chrisitie told Romney supporters there that he would be back “Jersey style” if they did not help the Bain Capital co-founder win the Iowa caucuses.
Although he did not follow through on that promise, a day after Mr. Romney’s second place finish in the Palmetto state, the New Jersey governor focused his criticism on Mr. Gingrich. Throughout his campaign appearances and television interviews thus far in the campaign, Mr. Christie has focused his attacks on the Obama administration.
However, his comments Sunday indicate that he and other supporters of Mr. Romney now see the former House speaker as a viable threat to Mr. Romney’s hopes of winning the Republican nomination in 2012.
“We know the record, he was fined $300,000 for ethics violations. This is a guy that has had a very difficult political career at times and it has been an embarrassment to the party,” said Mr. Christie Sunday. “This is a guy who has never run anything. I don’t think on the job training should be the presidency of the United States. He has done great things for the party and the country. I don’t believe his record stacks up to Governor Romney in that regard.”
Ironically Mr. Gingrich was fined $300,000 in ethics violations 14 years ago on the same day (January 21st, 1997) that he won the South Carolina Republican primary election in 2012.
Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney have continuously exchanged criticism of each other throughout the campaign, most recently involving Mr. Gingrich’s challenge to the former Massachusetts governor to release his tax returns.
In an interview last week, Governor Christie said that he would advise Mr. Romney to release his tax returns, ahead of his proposed April release date. Much of the focus in South Carolina shifted to Mr. Romney’s refusal to release his tax returns after Mr. Gingrich released his last week.
The New Jersey governor summed South Carolina up as a “bad week” for Mr. Romney’s campaign, but said that he just needs to “brush it off” and move on to Florida.
Mr. Christie also addressed the continued speculation that he is a likely vice presidential candidate if Mr. Romney is able to win the Republican nomination in 2012.
“My inclination, to make it very clear, is that I want to stay governor of the state of New Jersey,” said Mr. Christie Sunday.
