Christie vs. Astorino: New York hopeful slams governor for lack of support

Christie vs. Astorino: New York hopeful slams governor for lack of support
By Brent Johnson | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014

TRENTON — On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie gave a simple reason for why he isn’t planning to make New York a campaign stop on his national tour as head of the Republican Governors Association: The GOP’s attempt to defeat Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a "lost cause."

On Tuesday, the party’s candidate in that race — Rob Astorino — shot back at Jersey’s outspoken governor.

Astorino said Christie should resign as the RGA chair for not supporting a fellow Republican. And he suggested the governor could be shying away from this race because of "a connection" with Cuomo over the George Washington Bridge scandal.

"If he’s unable to do his job as RGA chair to help Republican candidates, including the one in New York, if there’s a side deal or a quid pro quo or a handshake between the two of them, then obviously he can’t do his job," Astorino, the Westchester County executive, said during a radio interview on WGDJ 1300 AM.

The dustup came in the middle of Christie’s ever-busy schedule as chairman of the RGA, a group that raises money for Republican hopefuls throughout the county. Christie has traveled to nearly two dozen states to campaign for candidates, raising a record $60 million in the process — and helping boost his own profile as he considers a run for president in 2016.

During a campaign visit to Connecticut on Monday, Christie said even though New Jersey is right next to New York, it’s unlikely he’ll campaign for Astorino in his attempt to oust Cuomo.

"I will spend time in places where we have a chance to win — I said that right from the beginning,” Christie told reporters.

"We don’t pay for landslides and we don’t invest in lost causes," he added. "If the New York race becomes competitive, I’ll consider campaigning in the New York race. But right now, by the public polls, there’s a lot more competitive races like this one in Connecticut."

A Sienna College poll released Monday shows Cuomo holds a 37 percentage-point lead over Astorino.

But during a news conference in Manhattan Tuesday, Astorino suggested Christie isn’t doing his job as RGA chair by declining to back him.

"My take is maybe it’s inconvenient to come over the bridge to New York to help a Republican candidate for governor here," Astorino said. "That’s his call, whether he wants to or not. But as RGA chair, he has governors and candidates who have a chance to win, and it’s incumbent upon him to help all of us."

Astorino then suggested the bridge scandal may be playing a role, though he didn’t make specific allegations.

"I don’t know if there’s a connection between him and Andrew Cuomo on Bridgegate, or if Cuomo has something that he’s holding back — information that could be damaging to the governor," Astorino said. "Whatever Gov. Christie knew or didn’t know is probably the same for Gov. Cuomo. And if there’s anything being held back that Gov. Cuomo knows and if he’s holding that over Gov. Christie’s head, I don’t know."

Christie’s office and Cuomo’s office declined comment. But David Paterson, the former New York governor who heads the state Democratic Party, shot down the claims related to the bridge controversy.

"That is a reckless, irresponsible accusation to make with no basis whatsoever, and not fitting for a qualified gubernatorial candidate," Paterson said in a statement. "Maybe that’s why his candidacy is not being taken seriously."

Christie and Cuomo both appoint officials to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bistate agency that oversees tunnels and bridges between the states.

Federal prosecutors and members of a New Jersey state legislative committee are investigating whether members of Christie’s office conspired with his allies at the Port Authority to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge last September, causing days of heavy traffic in Fort Lee. Democrats allege the scheme was hatched because Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor refused to endorse Christie for re-election. Christie has denied personal involvement, and he and Cuomo have announced a joint initiative to reform the Port Authority.

Despite his comments Monday, Christie has campaigned for underdog Republicans.

In New Hampshire, where the GOP has yet to nominate a candidate, Christie appeared on the campaign trail last month with gubernatorial hopeful Walt Havenstein — who was trailing Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan by more than 31 percentage points, according to a June poll. Christie is scheduled to take another trip to New Hampshire, which holds the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, next week.

He also campaigned in Iowa for the state’s five-term governor, Terry Branstad, who shows little signs he needs a boost to win re-election. Branstad has far more cash on hand than his Democratic challenger, and a recent Marist poll showed him with a double-digit lead and a 58 percent approval rating.

NJ Advance Media reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.