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player ready...New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, giving a fundraising speech in the northwest suburbs Thursday, described Americans as being anxious because of “an absolute, abject failure in the Oval Office.”
The likely 2016 presidential candidate was the keynote speaker at a Rolling Meadows Lincoln Day dinner, which helped raise money for Republican leaders and candidates.
President Barack Obama, Christie said, “is like a man in a dark room struggling along a wall trying to find a light switch.”
He faulted the president for “withdrawing from the world” and missing opportunities to make headway on domestic policies on energy, taxes and bipartisanship.
“The president has offered nice words but put little action behind it,” Christie said.
About 850 people attended the event at The Meadows Club, 2950 W. Golf Rd. It was hosted by the townships of Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Maine, Northfield, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wheeling. Guests paid $100 to $250 per ticket for dinner or a private reception.
Dan Proft, president of Liberty Principles PAC, was master of ceremonies for the event, which drew Republican candidates and elected officials from across the state.
Christie compared his governorship in a blue state to the challenges faced by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner. But Christie spent a considerable amount of time during the short speech focused on national issues.
Christie, one of a slew of White House contenders, began the week campaigning in Iowa, where he cited his record as a conservative governor in a Democratic state, noting his efforts to cut taxes and reduce spending.
Some of the others courting the Republican nomination include former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
Last week during a trip to the United Kingdom, Christie sparked controversy at home by saying that “parents need to have some measure of choice” on vaccinations.
Christie’s office quickly backtracked, releasing a statement that declared that “with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated.” But the comments drew scorn nationally.
He also has suffered in the polls in his home state since a scandal in 2013 over the four-day closure of the George Washington Bridge. Two Christie aides allegedly hatched the plan to create the traffic plan to get back for political reasons. State lawmakers have not turned up any evidence that Christie knew about the scheme, but a federal investigation is ongoing, according to news reports.
The Associated Press contributed.
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