Chris Christie Preparing Nationwide Campaign Swing for GOP

Guy Benson | September 03, 2010 3:20 PM

The GOP is preparing to dispatch NJ Gov. Chris Christie on a nationwide campaign tour, stumping for fellow Republicans and helping with fundraising efforts.

Hot Air's Allahpundit flagged

Christie's endorsement of moderate Republican Mike Castle for US Senate in neighboring Delaware. Here's the video of their informal joint appearance:

A Christie spokesman told Townhall.com that the Castle nod is the first of multiple out-of-state campaign stops the rising Republican star will make before the midterm elections. "Governor Christie will be heading across the country to help other candidates in the next few months," said Michael Drewniak. "We've received lots of requests--more than can be accommodated--but [Christie] plans to do what he can while working on a full policy agenda here in New Jersey this fall." Drewniak declined to specify which states or candidates are on the docket, but said the governor's campaign schedule will be made public "pretty soon."

Christie, whose popularity eclipses President Obama's in New Jersey, will also campaign for several in-state GOP candidates. "That's definitely something we're working into the governor's schedule," Drewniak explained. "We've got

an event coming up with [former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman and NJ-3 Republican Congressional nominee Jon] Runyan this weekend, and we'll be adding more events in the coming weeks."

New Jersey Republicans are eying at least three possible Congressional pickups in districts where Christie fared well last year:

Jon Runyan is running a strong campaign against vulnerable Democratic incumbent Jon Adler in the 3rd district, which stretches across Christie strongholds Ocean and Burlington counties. In the 6th district, Tea Party heroine Anna Little is in a dogfight with Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone. And in the 12th district (in which Christie carried 4 of 5 counties), self-funding venture capitalist Scott Sipprelle is making a run at six-term liberal incumbent Rush Holt.