Christie stumps in 2014, with eye on 2016

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), the head of the Republican Governors Association, is putting in extra time in Iowa and New Hampshire ahead of a possible presidential run, and that’s leaving other states with governor’s races feeling left out.

Christie has made four trips to Iowa, including two in the past week. Monday will mark Christie’s fifth trip to New Hampshire. 

{mosads}Neither governor’s race is among the closest in the country, but the states are home to the first two presidential nominating contests, offering Christie a chance to make connections as he stumps in his role as RGA chairman.

“The governor has put in a little extra credit in Iowa, so to speak,” said Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Iowa GOP and editor of The Iowa Republican. He noted Christie has also taken the time to campaign for congressional candidates in the state.

By contrast, Christie has not made any visits this year to boost GOP gubernatorial candidates in Oregon, Vermont, or New York. 

The Oregon race, in particular, is certainly not a blowout, as Republican Dennis Richardson is within 7 points in the latest Oregonian poll. 

The RGA has not given any money to Oregon. In 2010, it spent over $2 million, and Republican Chris Dudley came within two points of winning. 

“Governor Christie has not donated anything to this race and we were disappointed in that because we came very close last time,” said Art Robinson, chairman of the Oregon Republican Party. 

The Richardson campaign pointed out that it has received help in areas such as research and opposition tracking from the RGA. 

Christie made trips to New Hampshire in June and July, when Republican Walt Havenstein was down by double digits. Right next door in Vermont, Republican Scott Milne, down by 12 points in the latest poll, has not received any Christie visits this year. 

Vermont Republican Party Chairman David Sunderland said the race there is “close and getting closer.”

“It’s impossible to help everyone and every race a much as you like,” he added, regarding the RGA. “So I certainly respect the decision that they’re making.”

In New York, Republican Rob Astorino’s campaign called out the RGA this month, telling the Asbury Park Press that incumbent Democrat Andrew Cuomo’s poll numbers have been trending down and “how that doesn’t attract interest is beyond us.”

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), a potential primary rival to Christie, appeared to call for more support, then walked back his comments last week.

Jon Thompson, a spokesman for the RGA, argued that New York and Vermont “have not proved to be competitive in polling” and that Oregon has only in the past week. 

“The RGA has always been very straightforward that we are focused on investing in competitive races, and that’s continued this cycle,” Thompson wrote in an email. 

He said Christie has been to many states more often than Iowa and New Hampshire, and “campaigning for a successful GOP Governor like Terry Branstad is great for our brand.” 

Christie has certainly not overlooked the country’s closest races, making frequent trips to Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Maine and other states. He has raised a record $102 million for the RGA, and in the final five days before the election is on a tour of 19 states.

But he also seems to be paying special attention to Iowa and New Hampshire. On Saturday, he spoke at a birthday fundraiser for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who is up by as much as 20 points in the polls. Then he came back on Thursday to travel to the southeastern corner of the state to campaign for Branstad in Burlington, Iowa. 

“Folks ask me why I’m coming to Iowa so much,” Christie said at the birthday bash on Saturday. “Well it’s because Terry Branstad asked me to come to Iowa, and when Terry Branstad asks you to come to Iowa, you do not say, ‘No.’ ”

Jeff Boeyink, Branstad’s former chief of staff, supports a Christie presidential run, and said the New Jersey governor’s trips to Iowa have been important. 

“All of that is going to help him should he decide to run, in terms of being familiar with the activists,” Boeyink said. He added that Branstad has had a strong relationship with Christie going back to 2010, when Christie came to Iowa for a Branstad fundraiser.

“The governor has a strong affinity for Governor Christie, and while he may not endorse him, a lot of folks like me are going to know that that relationship is positive,” he said.

In New Hampshire, the race is closer than in Iowa, but Democratic incumbent Maggie Hassan still has consistently had a healthy lead in the polls. Christie’s trips could have helped narrow the gap some. 

“We have a long tradition of good will trips,” said Patrick Hynes, a New Hampshire operative who advised Mitt Romney’s campaign in 2012. “I think it’s going to pay dividends because it’s something we sort of expect.”