Christie to Attend Inaugurations in Key Primary States

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie this week will be crisscrossing the country to attend inaugurations for a slew of fellow governors, a move Politico characterizes as dual purposed: To cultivate the relationships with governors he developed while chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and as an excuse to make appearances in critical early states.

Christie’s inauguration tour kicks off Tuesday in the battleground state of Florida, for the second-term swearing in of Gov. Rick Scott.

It then moves to Massachusetts for first-term Gov. Charlie Baker, followed by Ohio, a key swing state. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is said to be, like Christie, considering a presidential run on the Republican ticket.

From the Buckeye State, Christie will attend inaugurations for Gov. Bruce Rauner in Illinois, Gov. Nikki Haley in South Carolina, and Gov. Terry Branstad in Iowa, Politico reports.

The final stop will be in Maryland, where incoming Gov. Larry Hogan pulled out a surprise win against Anthony Brown, the candidate favored by outgoing Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, "a longtime Christie foe."

Last month, the Associated Press reported that Christie told a group of middle school students that he planned to discuss a possible White House run with his family over the Christmas holiday. He wanted to have a family meeting when his two oldest were home from college.

"Is it right for me? Is it right for my family? Is it right for the country ... If I answer 'yes' to all three of those things, then I will run. If I don't answer 'yes' to all three then I won't," Christie told New Jersey public television network NJTV.

One person he’s not consulting is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has resigned all his corporate posts in what’s believed to be a forthcoming announcement.

Christie and Bush will be looking to tap donors from the same circles, an issue many political pundits have raised.

But Christie told NJTV host Steve Adubato that Bush’s decision will have no bearing on his own.

"It's not one of the three questions," he said.

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