New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is canceling campaign events Friday and Saturday and will head back to New Jersey in light of the winter storm expected to ravage the East Coast, after facing criticism for earlier plans to remain on the campaign trail.
Mr. Christie’s presidential campaign said Friday that he’s canceling events in New Hampshire Friday evening and Saturday, though his wife, Mary Pat, will remain in the state and participate in events.
“I’m sorry, NH but I gotta go home — we got snow coming,” Mr. Christie tweeted Friday afternoon. “I want to make sure the people of my state feel safe and secure.”
“But I will be back, because I am able to do both things. The fact is — you are never not the governor,” he also tweeted.
People like New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, in the midst of his own storm preparations, had said Mr. Christie should return home.
Mr. Christie had previously said he would return if he thought it was necessary.
“I was on a call last night. I’ll be on another call tonight,” Mr. Christie had told WMUR. “If I feel like it’s necessary for me to get down there, I will, but I’m not driving a plow truck, OK? We have all of our people ready to go. They know what to do. We’ve been through Hurricane Sandy, this cabinet, so 6, 8, 10, 12 inches of snow on a weekend will not be something that I think will be more than we can handle.”
Mr. Christie readily praised President Obama in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and he welcomed the president to the state during the final days of the 2012 presidential campaign.
That move drew the ire of a number of conservatives, some of whom argued it slowed down momentum GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney might have had.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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