Running or not, Chris Christie heads to key primary state

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey hit the campaign trail in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state New Hampshire on Friday.

Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, was in town to campaign with Walt Havenstein, a Republican running for New Hampshire governor. Havenstein is one of two Republicans vying to challenge Governor Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, in November. Despite Christie’s affiliation, the governors group itself is not endorsing in the primary.

However, Christie’s visit ignited speculation about his own political aspirations. When asked by a reporter if he was visiting to begin laying the groundwork, Christie was coy: “Absolutely not. How dare you?”

He said instead that he is doing his best to help the Republican Party by electing GOP governors around the country and taking control of the Senate in 2014.

“It’s New Hampshire and that’s the way it is,” Christie said, of the 2016 speculation about him.

It was his first trip to New Hampshire since 2012, following last year’s bridge scandal that suddenly reduced his chances of being a top GOP presidential contender.This state holds the first primary in the race for the White House. If he does run for the GOP nomination, winning the Granite State’s primary may be crucial for Christie.

Political observers viewed the trip as one of several tentative steps Christie is taking toward political rehabilitation.

Havenstein, when asked in an interview whether he had any concerns about the ongoing controversy, pointed to Christie’s leadership after the bridge crisis erupted.

“Leaders fix things,” he said, “and I think the people of New Jersey appreciate the fact that when a problem was discovered, he took quick and decisive action.”

Christie, who was well received by the crowd, touted his credentials on important social issues, and framed the issue of drug addiction and treatment in a social conservative way.

This was Christie’s first address to a major gathering of social conservatives. Earlier this year, he was well received at the Conservative Political Action Conference.