FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. — Gov. Chris Christie stumped for congressional candidate Mike Fitzpatrick in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania today, saying Republicans need to take a stand against out-of-control spending in Washington and state capitals. Christie spoke at a fundraiser for Fitzpatrick outside a concrete company headquarters located about five miles from the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton. "With 14 days...
Clik here to view.
Gov. Chris Christie (second from right) listens with former Pa. Governor Mark Schweiker (right) as businessman John Silvi (center) introduces Pennsylvania congressional candidate Mike Fitzpatrick (left) in Fairless Hills, Pa. today.FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. — Gov. Chris Christie stumped for congressional candidate Mike Fitzpatrick in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania today, saying Republicans need to take a stand against out-of-control spending in Washington and state capitals.
Christie spoke at a fundraiser for Fitzpatrick outside a concrete company headquarters located about five miles from the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.
"With 14 days to go, it is put up or shut up time for our party," Christie said. "It is time for our party to make the tough decisions that need to be made."
Donors mingled, ate hors d'oeuvres and posed for photos with Christie, then sat at circular banquet tables under a tent to hear speeches.
Many Fitzpatrick supporters said they would have attended the fundraiser with or without Christie, but described the presence of New Jersey's tough-talking governor as a bonus.
John Lawlor, a Pennsylvania resident and Fitzpatrick supporter who owns a fire protection business, said Christie was the reason he showed up.
"It was the difference between slogging over here to southern Bucks County on a Tuesday or staying at work," he said. "I've really admired the way he's stuck to his agenda. I wish there were a few more Chris Christies in office."
Fitzpatrick said he hopes Christie's presence provides a fund raising boost in his campaign to unseat Murphy.
"We're always looking for heroes," Fitzpatrick said. "Gov. Christie is heroic in what he's doing."
Fitzpatrick is fighting to reclaim his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran who ousted him in 2006.
A lawyer who previously served as a county commissioner, Fitzpatrick served for one term in Congress before being voted out by a narrow margin. Now, with Republicans poised to make significant gains in Congress, he’s leading Murphy in the polls by double digits.
Fitzpatrick and Murphy are fighting to represent Pennsylvania’s Eighth Congressional District, which includes all of Bucks County and some of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia.
Former Republican Pennyslvania Gov. Mark Schweiker drew similarities between Christie's successful campaign against former Gov. Jon Corzine and Fitzpatrick's push to reclaim his congressional seat.
"We want the same outcome in two weeks," Schweiker said.
Christie said supporters need to open their wallets to help Fitzpatrick counter the Democrats' national campaign operation.
"I hope you brought some checks from your friends for Mike too," Christie said.
Christie said Republicans have the momentum on their side in this election cycle.
"We don't need to wait until 2012 to take our country back," he said. "We will take our country back overnight on Nov. 2."
Christie has denied any interest in higher office, although his cross-country political tour stumping for various Republican candidates has raised his national profile.
Last week he was in Connecticut to support gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley and U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon. Before that he’s made stops in Los Angeles, New Mexico and Iowa, the customary stomping grounds for presidential contenders. An Internet petition seeking to draft Christie to run for president drew 838 supporters in the first 72 hours.
Christie is scheduled to make another stop today in Philadelphia to stump for Tom Corbett, the Republican candidate for governor and the state's attorney general for the past six years. Corbett is running against Democrat Dan Onorato, the chief executive of Allegheny County.
| Chris Christie stumps in Pennsylvania for Corbett and talks about balancing the budget |