New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who on Tuesday announced his candidacy for president, will show up at Becky’s Diner in Portland at 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to his official campaign schedule.
Christie was in New Hampshire for a town hall forum Tuesday evening, when several journalists following him on the campaign trail first reported his Maine detour.
Nothing is official (Gov. Paul LePage’s office didn’t return a call for comment late Tuesday night), but an endorsement by LePage seems like a fait accompli.
Christie and LePage have described themselves as close friends, and as head of the Republican Governors Association, Christie stumped and fundraised for LePage four times during the Maine governor’s re-election campaign last year — including at Becky’s Diner.
According to campaign finance reports, the RGA spent $5.1 million to help elect LePage, the most spent by any group on any candidate in 2014.
“It’s always crucial and very important to have the support of your colleagues,” LePage said of Christie in May last year. “Chris Christie is a leader in the Republican ranks, not only in the RGA but in the Republican Party as a whole. I’m always honored to have him here. It’s a humbling experience to be able to work with Chris.”
The sudden schedule change means Christie will will be the first 2016 presidential candidate to visit the Pine Tree State, upstaging Democrat Bernie Sanders — a U.S. senator from Vermont who is scheduled to visit Portland on Monday — for the honors.
After his visit in Maine, Christie will return to New Hampshire for a house party in Bristol at 4 p.m. and another town hall in Ashland at 6 p.m. Christie has events scheduled in the New Hampshire through Independence Day.
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