Chris Christie to attend Ohio Gov. Kasich swearing-in ceremony

COLUMBUS (AP) — Gov. John Kasich will be joined at his swearing-in ceremony next week by fellow Republican and potential presidential contender Chris Christie.

A spokeswoman for Kasich’s inauguration committee today confirmed that the New Jersey governor plans to attend Kasich’s inaugural celebration next Monday at the historic Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus.

The stop allows Christie more face time ahead of the 2016 presidential race in Kasich’s closely divided swing state, where he also stumped for the second-term governor during midterm elections as president of the Republican Governors Association.

Christie plans to appear at Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, in another important swing state, and at the swearing-in ceremonies of Republican governors in Massachusetts, Illinois, South Carolina, Iowa and Maryland.