As Christie ends presidential campaign, NJ lawmakers glad to see governor back home

Gov. Chris Christie has returned to New Jersey after ending his campaign for president on the heels  of a disappointing sixth-place finish in the New Hampshire Republican primary Tuesday.

Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto believes having Christie back in the state full time will make it easier to resolve the state’s major issues.”We live in the 21st century. Obviously, we have a lot of mobile devices, and we can talk to him,” Prieto said. “But for me, there’s nothing like sitting across the table and seeing the whites of the eyes of the person that you’re talking to, to get things accomplished. That personal touch, I think, it’s always better.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday afternoon he’s ready to make compromises with Christie to resolve major issues including pensions and replenishing the Transportation Trust Fund.

Whether Christie has a reciprocal view may have a bearing on his future, according to Monmouth University political analyst Patrick Murray.

If Christie considers making another run for president in 2020, he needs to consider what to do in the final two years of his term as governor.

“Is it to actually work with the legislature to fix some of these big ticket items like the pension fund or the transportation trust fund?” Murray said. “Or is it to butt heads with the legislature, to burnish some of his conservative bona fides, which has been the big problem for him.”