New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a backer of Mitt Romney, said this morning that Newt Gingrich has "embarassed" the Republican Party during his checkered political career.
“I think Newt Gingrich has embarrassed the party over time," Christie said on NBC's Meet the Press. "Whether he’ll do it again I don’t know, but Gov. Romney never has."
He continued, “He was run out of the Speakership by his own party. He was fined $300,000 for ethics violations. This is a guy whose had a very difficult political career at times and has been an embarrassment to the party."
He went on to warn that "sometimes past is prologue.”
Christie argued that Romney's executive experience would make him a better candidate and president than Gingrich, though when host David Gregory asked Christie if he though Gingrich could beat Obama, he answered "sure."
Earlier in the interview, Christie blasted Gingrich for describing his work for Freddie Mac as being a "strategic advisor" rather than a lobbyist.
“A strategic adviser?" Christie said. "That is the oldest Washington dodge in the book. That’s because he didn’t want to register as a lobbyist... He got paid $1.6 million. First he said he was a historian. Now he’s a strategic adviser. Let’s be serious. It’s the oldest dodge in the book. He was using his influence that he obtained in his public office to try to help them. That’s why he paid them $1.6 million. He can call it whatever he wants to call it, but that’s what it is.”
Christie also said that while he wouldn't bet on him being vice president, it's something he would consider if Romney became the nominee and asked him to join the ticket.
