New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is headed back to Iowa next month to appear at the inaugural “Iowa Freedom Summit” co-hosted by GOP Rep. Steve King and Citizens United.
Mike DuHaime, a top political adviser for Mr. Christie, told The Associated Press that the governor will be appearing at the event because Mr. King invited him and said it will be Mr. Christie’s first visit to Iowa since the midterm elections.
“Gov. Christie very much values the friendships he’s developed over the years with both Gov. [Terry] Branstad and Congressman King,” Mr. DuHaime said.
Mr. Christie oversaw the Republican Governors Association during a 2014 election season that saw the GOP win in blue states like Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois. He is weighing a 2016 bid for the presidency — a contest that would start out with the Iowa caucuses.
Mr. Branstad recently praised Mr. Christie for vetoing legislation that would have banned the use of pig gestation crates in New Jersey. Mr. Christie called the bill a “solution in search of a problem,” while critics said he had an eye on farm-heavy Iowa when he made the decision.
Other speakers scheduled to speak at the Jan. 24 event are former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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