Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's first term likely won't survive the calls for his resignation after a racist photo surfaced from his 1984 medical school yearbook, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ― who faced a major scandal of a different type while in office ― said Monday.
I quite frankly don't think he's going to be able to survive this for two reasons," Christie said on CNN's "New Day." "One, because of his own conduct. And, two, because of the Democratic Party. I don't think as a whole, can deal can deal with going into a presidential year having to answer this question over and over and over again."
Christie's own time in office was hindered by the Bridgegate scandal, and he told CNN that such things are "hard, no matter what."
Democrats are calling for Northam to resign after a photo on his page in the yearbook showed two men, with one in a Ku Klux Klan costume and the other in blackface. Northam initially apologized for the photo, but later denied being involved. He was already under fire from Republicans after his comments concerning late-term abortion
Democrats also will have difficulty dealing with the scandal because as a party, they have been "aggressive rhetorically" on issues of race, said Christie, pointing out that he does believe the party's reaction to riots in Charlottesville, Va., was appropriate.
However, there will be people looking for "hypocrisy," and Democrats must apply the same standards to Northam, he added.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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