Christie To DC? Pundits Chime In
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - With a Trump Administration set to take office in a little more than two months, there were rising expectations that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would be a part of it.
That is, until Friday, when Christie was replaced as head of Trump's transition team by Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Christie takes a secondary role on that team with the likes of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions.
Christie's Role In Trump Transition Reduced As Post-Bridgegate Problems Mount
All that talk of Christie becoming Attorney General, Homeland Security Secretary or White House Chief of Staff has dampened a great deal since the demotion. But it would be foolish to think Mister Trump won't offer Christie some role in a new administration. And he could still be tapped for a high profile position.
So what happened?
Fairleigh Dickinson Political Science Professor Peter Woolley suggests, after Mister Trump victory, those within the inner circle started taking a hard look at the future. The first thing they had to consider was who would top the transition effort.
"He who controls the transition not only controls hundreds of important appointments but controls the political direction of the White House," Woolley told KYW Newsradio. "So this is a very important decision to replace Christie."
It's hard to say just what led to the change. Maybe it was the aftermath of Bridgegate, and talk in some circles that Christie might be impeached. Or maybe it's the Governor's low approval numbers with New Jersey voters, numbers now sitting in the low 20's in just about every statewide poll.
Whatever the reason, Rowan University Assistant Political Science Professor Anne Pluta suggests many in the Garden State wouldn't mind a fresh face in the Governor's office.
"I think, for the most part, people are dissatisfied with him and so it seems that very few people would be sad to see him go at this point," Pluta said.
Christie's early departure, should it occur, would leave New Jersey in the hands of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who has served in Christie's shadow for the last 7 years and is expected to run for the job herself next year.
In recent weeks, Guadagno has split with Christie on a number of issues in an attempt to separate herself from her boss.
