RGA

Independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Daggett responded to the Republican Governors Association (RGA) ad against him by laying it at the feet of Republican Chris Christie’s brother, Todd.

"This ad was essentially paid for by the $200,000 contribution that Todd Christie laundered through the Republican Governors Association to help his brother’s campaign in New Jersey in circumvention of the $3,400 limit that my campaign is honoring," said Daggett in a press release that accompanied a press conference he held in Trenton this morning.

“There’s two standards in New Jersey,’’ he said. “One for the Christie brothers and one for everyone else.’’

The 60-second RGA radio spot says that Daggett’s tax plan is like Gov. Jon Corzine’s, “only worse.”

Although Daggett says that his candidacy eats into support for both major party candidates equally, polls show him sapping anti-incumbent votes from Christie.  While Corzine has treated the independent gently, Christie recently has downplayed the significance of his candidacy, calling it “an amusement.”

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie is scheduled to attend two high dollar fundraising events next week to raise money for the Republican Governors Association. 

On Monday, Commerce Bank founder Vernon Hill is hosting a $5,000-per-person cocktail party at his home in Medford.  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a likely contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, will also attend.

On Wednesday, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson will host a $25,000-per-person event at his Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan.   Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will join Christie at that event.  Members of the host committee include newly-elected New York GOP State Chairman Edward Cox (Richard Nixon's son-in-law) and former White House aide Fred Malek.  Watch for the Democrats to spend at least a few minutes e-mailing the results of their Google search of Malek.

The Republican Governors Association has released a poll showing former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie running fifteen points ahead of the Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.  The poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday for the RGA by Basswood Research, is the one referenced in a Star-Ledger story today that says that Barack Obama's campaign appearance in New Jersey next week will have "virtually no impact on the governor's race."

The poll of 600 likely general election voters was conducted July 6-7 by Basswood Research (margin of error = +/- 4%): 

CRYAN: CHRISTIE SHOULD DENOUNCE SANFORD’S RGA

“The hypocrisy of Christie’s candidacy is exposed with every advertising dollar he continues to accept in Mark Sanford’s name”

TRENTON – Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan today called on Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie to publicly denounce the Mark Sanford led Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) and refuse to accept their advertising support.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie will take his campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination to the Republican Governors Association dinner tonight in Washington, D.C.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie will address the Republican Governors Association gala in Washington, D.C. tonight.  Christie and former Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell are the only two candidates to be invited.  The audience will include most of the nation's GOP Governors.  While the RGA is not expected to endorse a candidate in the Republican primary and will not put money into New Jersey until after the primary, if at all, showcasing like this will help Christie raise money. 

Christie's chief rival, former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, is expected to address the Club for Growth meeting on Palm Beach, Florida on March 6.  The Club for Growth provides financial support to conservatives in GOP primaries, and Lonegan's appearance in Florida will likely produce more money for the primary than Christie's Washington speech.