New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, dogged by bridge closure, booed at Super Bowl event
Governor's presidential ambitions appear under threat as crowd boos him at New York Super Bowl event following new revelations over orchestrated traffic chaos under his watch
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was greeted with audible boos and a few loud cheers during a Super Bowl-related appearance in New York on Saturday, a day after a former appointee said the popular Republican knew about politically motivated lane closures near a busy commuter bridge.
The incident cast a cloud over Christie at what could have been a moment of triumph for the man until recently considered a leading candidate for his party’s nomination to run for president in 2016. The Super Bowl will be played on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
At a ceremony marking the hand off of Super Bowl hosting duties, Christie appeared on Saturday in New York’s Times Square with National Football League (NFL) officials and political leaders from New York and Arizona, which will host next year’s game.
Christie’s introduction was met with a chorus of audible boos and chants of support from the thousands of people gathered in the area for a Super Bowl street fair.
He did not mention the scandal during brief 30 second remarks in which he thanked the NFL and his New York counterpart and Super Bowl co-host, Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The negative public sentiment was unusual for Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association who coasted to re-election as governor in November with 60 per cent of the vote.