Christie stumps for GOP governor in Iowa

BURLINGTON, Iowa — A loose and road-weary Chris Christie cracked jokes and winked at a potential presidential candidacy in a campaign stop here Thursday night.

The Republican New Jersey governor appeared with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad at a TV antenna factory here, pouring praise on the five-term incumbent and encouraging a crowd of about 200 to support Branstad's bid for a record-setting sixth.

"I don't want just a win for Terry and Kim on Nov. 4," Christie said, referring to Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, "I want a big, fat blowout win on Nov. 4."

Christie turned up about 40 minutes late for the event, landing in Iowa after campaign stops with candidates in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado earlier in the day.

"I'm in my fourth state today, but I ended with the right guy," Christie said, ticking off a long list of Branstad's personal and political qualities.

"I remember when he told me he was going to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation," Christie said. "I said, damn, if you are I better move there quick. Might help."

Although Christie kept his remarks focused on Branstad — at one point comparing him to Yankees great Mickey Mantle — members of the crowd pushed the conversation to his possible run for president.

When a man in the crowd yelled out, "Christie '16!" The governor shot back, "Easy now!"

Afterward, a woman told him to come back to Iowa "when we can elect you president," to which he replied, "I'm thinking about it."

As the event wrapped up, Christie spent several minutes chatting warmly not only with Branstad and Reynolds but also Bruce Rastetter — the businessman and chairman of the Board of Regents who is one of the top GOP donors in the state. The pair know each other from 2011, when Rastetter was one of several Iowa donors who flew to New Jersey in an effort to draft Christie into the 2012 presidential race.

The Christie rally here came just hours before Branstad's opponent is scheduled to roll through town.

Democratic challenger Jack Hatch is wrapping up his campaign with a six-day, 37-city tour that will include a stop at the Democratic Party's Burlington campaign office on Friday morning.

Hatch's campaign never gained traction in the race against the popular, five-term incumbent, and recent polls show him trailing by around 20 points.

In a statement, Hatch sought to equate controversies involving Branstad to the Christie's George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal, which initially appeared to derail his national political ambitions.

"Govs. Chris Christie and Terry Branstad are together again comparing notes on how to mismanage government, avoid taking the blame for bad decisions and try to survive scandal-plagued terms in office," Hatch said.

The Burlington visit was Christie's fourth to Iowa during the current election cycle and his second in just the last six days.