In clash, Rob Astorino says Chris Christie may wish to quit RGA role

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey got Rob Astorino, Republican candidate for governor of New York, a bit of media attention Tuesday — even if it wasn’t the kind the Westchester county executive set out to get.

It started with Christie, campaigning for a GOP hopeful in Connecticut, saying of New York that at the Republican Governors Association, of which he became chairman in November: “We don’t pay for landslides and we don’t invest in lost causes.”

“If the New York race becomes competitive, I’ll consider campaigning in the New York race, but right now, by the public polls, there’s a lot more competitive races like this one in Connecticut,” he said, according to nj.com.

That led Astorino, in a rare joint appearance with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s primary opponent Zephyr Teachout, to say Christie has not been quite the same since the “Bridgegate” scandal broke.

And, Astorino said: “If Gov. Christie is unable to help a Republican candidate for governor, then maybe he should consider stepping down as chairman of the RGA. That’s his job.”

Astorino said he did not know when asked if he thought there was a pact between Cuomo and Christie who jointly run the Port Authority.

“Look, Gov. Christie and I have had a very good relationship. I think he’s done a good job as governor of New Jersey. However, a lot changed since Bridgegate, and this is obviously controlled by two states.

“Whatever Governor Christie knew or didn’t know is probably the same for Governor Cuomo. And if anything is being held back that Governor Cuomo knows, and if he’s holding that over Governor Christie’s head, I don’t know. But clearly for Governor Christie to make that kind of comment as chairman of the RGA is  ... not his role.”