Christie to raise funds in Summit County

By Joe Vardon

Columbus Dispatch

AKRON

Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be in Ohio next month to raise money, but the question is for whom?

Christie, the Republican Governors Association chairman and a possible contender for the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2016, is headlining the annual fundraising dinner for the Summit County Republican Party in the Akron area on Sept. 29. Christie’s planned visit was first reported by The Associated Press.

An employee at the Summit County GOP said the fundraiser is for the local party —$300 per ticket — and there will be a private reception beforehand. As RGA chair, Christie’s primary function is to raise money in support of Republican governors in elections. Ohio’s Republican governor, John Kasich, is up for re-election this fall, but it’s unclear how this fundraiser helps Kasich’s coffers.

The RGA, though, has already supported Kasich with a ‘seven figure’ TV ad campaign and has pledged to spend more in Ohio during the final two months. A spokesman with the RGA would not confirm Christie’s Akron trip.

Last November, Christie said, ‘I love John Kasich’ and ‘I’ll come to Ohio for John as frequently as he wants me to.’

This would be Christie’s first public appearance in Ohio since news broke that his aides purposefully caused a traffic buildup on the George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey for political retribution on a Jersey-side mayor.

Not only is Kasich running against Democrat Ed FitzGerald this fall, but no Republican has ever won the White House without Ohio, so a trip here next month could help Christie’s presidential aspirations if they materialize.

Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a Christie friend, headlined a party fundraiser in Youngstown on Friday night.