Christie doesn't think Steele and Gingrich weaken his ability to keep statewide focus
Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie and Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan campaign at the Filipino Heritage Festival in Bergenfield.

Christie doesn't think Steele and Gingrich weaken his ability to keep statewide focus

By Max Pizarro | July 12th, 2009 - 2:21am
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BERGENFIELD - Beset by bad poll numbers, Democrats couldn't wait to see which national Republicans would be forced in a big money atmosphere to come here to compete on behalf of GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie and thereby, in their view, set up a chance to brand Christie as the product of a party whose strength is mostly somewhere in the country's right-wing hinterlands.

Part of the answer came last week when National GOP Chairman Michael Steele confirmed he would campaign in South Jersey with Christie this coming Monday, an announcement that at least to this point produced little significant backlash - followed by the news Friday that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) would headline a private fundraising event on July 24th in Morris County for New Jersey Republicans.

The Christie campaign has repeatedly denounced Gov. Jon Corzine for "nationalizing" the governor's race by tethering himself to President Barack Obama and ducking what the GOP sees as the wreckage of the governor's own statewide tenure. 

But with Steele and Gingrich coming in from points south to add to a Republican base already firmed up by the likes of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, the question is whether Christie is now himself inevitably wrapped in national symbols, and whether that diminishes his campaign's ability to genuinely occupy local ground and speak to solely statewide issues.

A month after the state GOP took no action on a motion from the floor to adopt the platform of the Republican National Committee, Christie said Saturday he doesn't think the presence of Steele detracts from his campaign's ability to attack Corzine for attempting to detrentonize himself.

"The Republican Party chairman is coming in and visiting with me and other party leaders," Christie matter-of-factly told PolitickerNJ.com while campaigning at the Filipino Heritage Festival in Bergenfield.

As for Gingrich's presence here later this month, Christie said of the conservative leader, "I just heard about it. I'm going to talk to (State Party Chairman) Jay Webber about it."

Gingrich leads a think tank championing private health savings accounts (HSAs) as a solution to the country's healthcare crisis.

"I've already laid out where I stand on healthcare on my web site," said Christie when asked if he favors HSAs. "I haven't looked at it (Gingrich's healthcare plan)."  

On his web site, Christie commits to lowering small business healthcare costs by "allowing the purchase of health insurance policies from out-of-state insurance companies that offer better rates or better coverage." He says he also intends to permit membership organizations that have health plans to market to their New Jersey members and to enable insurance companies to offer “mandate-free” policies.

"These policies might better fit the needs of some consumers who may not need extravagant benefits, such as young or single consumers," the web site reads.

Tags:

This is really pathetic.

Submitted by roryar on July 12, 2009 - 11:42am.

Michael Steele is the party's national chairman. Only an idiot would assume that he wouldn't or shouldn't be campaigning for Christie. That's not the same as "nationalizing an election". Corzine is trying to nationalize it because he's trying to make it about "Democrats vs Republicans" when the truth is that even a lot of Democrats are supporting Christie.

Steele was originally

Submitted by RussOCNJ on July 12, 2009 - 12:12pm.

Steele was originally scheduled to come to Ocean City on Monday ... but I guess they knew better than to come here. I had a flyer ready to hand out:

The Ocean City Solar Panel Project a “Cap and Trade” example in the Soprano State

Project Cost $4 Million +

“This $4M solar project is another example of how government can be an environmental leader while being fiscally responsible”
Ocean City’s Mayor Perillo in an August 2008 news release

Total electricity recovered in 6 months: $20K
" We hope that this example will encourage others to follow our lead."
Mayor Perillo in a June 2009 news release announcing the $20K “savings”

Total time to recover costs: 100 – 200 years

NJ Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC)

SREC’s may be bought and sold by anyone … even those not involved in using alternative energy

The price of SREC’s increased more than 50% in 1 year

SREC prices are controlled by political appointees of the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU)

The BPU determines how many SREC’s energy companies must purchase to offset “dirty” energy

Energy companies add the cost of SREC’s to utility bills

Mayor Sal Perillo is a lifelong Democrat who formerly represented the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA). Perillo spent $250K campaigning to get a $20K/year job as Mayor. After being elected he hired a relative of an ACUA employee to a $150K/year job who directed the solar panel purchase. Perillo also operates a “bipartisan” law firm with Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis.

Inept

Submitted by Anti-RINO on July 12, 2009 - 12:49pm.

Reading the quotes from Christie, he sounds terribly inept and downright lazy. There's nothing inspiring about a candidate that always comes across as unprepared. "I just heard about it. I'm going to talk to (State Party Chairman) Jay Webber about it." "I haven't looked at it (Gingrich's healthcare plan)."

"Steele was originally

Submitted by CliffordCase on July 12, 2009 - 1:28pm.

"Steele was originally scheduled to come to Ocean City on Monday ... but I guess they knew better than to come here. I had a flyer ready to hand out:"

You scared them off.

Miss Congeniality

Submitted by diedrich knicke... on July 12, 2009 - 1:36pm.

It's so refreshing to see the usual grenade launchers nit and pick over ever little issue.
people are fleeing new jersey by the busloads
Business won't touch NJ with 10 foot pole (( blessed by abercrombie & fitch or dolce and gabbana for our resident cranky fashionistas
But hey let's stay focused on the big picture of how CC IS Dressed, or whose more conservative then thou. Our Nice Fashion Plate
Governor with his deep pockets and bespoke suits is running NJ Into Oblivion, and all some people are focused on is playing Judge
for NJ'S Next Top Governor. Let the paid professionals do the over the top fashion commentary

Keep them all out.

Submitted by Demsandonts on July 12, 2009 - 7:19pm.

If Christie had a half a brain he keep ALL the national Republicans out of the race. They bring no votes. Christie needs to live in Bergen County and specifically District 36. Vote Column "A" - All the way!

ashcroft, gonzalez, mukasey, goodling,sampson,rove.....

Submitted by peterendina on July 13, 2009 - 9:38am.

He should have ashcroft, gonzalez, and cheney come in to NJ.

Michael Steele, GOPAC Chairman, at Christie Event

Submitted by newjerseyfordum... on July 14, 2009 - 8:16pm.

Michael Steele Chairman of the Republican National Committee visired South Jersey on July 19, 2009 to support Chris Christie's run for Governor of New Jersey To see this exclusive video of this event go to...www.newjerseyfordummies.com http://blip.tv/file/2357782

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