Chris Christie Lays 2016 Foundation

The Republican Governors Association political bank can pay dividends for its chairman, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, if he decides to run for president.
Margaret Talev/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

A mob filled Governor Rick Scott's campaign field office in a strip mall last week in Vero Beach, Fla., spilling into the October afternoon, many in the crowd elbowing past the candidate to get to the main attraction.

In the maw of old ladies in festooned sun hats and young men clutching baseballs for autographs stood Chris Christie, chomping on a piece of gum, making small talk and obliging an endless stream of selfie-snappers.