Christie returns to pre-scandal playbook

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is hoping to get out from under scandal by using the playbook that helped establish his national reputation as a blunt-talking governor who is unafraid to take on adversaries.

Christie is hosting town hall meetings in Republican-controlled areas where he can command the overwhelmingly friendly crowds. And he has renewed his attack on public worker pensions, saying retiree costs are still out of control.

The potential 2016 presidential candidate is avoiding possible questioning by reporters about his viability as a national candidate.

Authorities are investigating whether traffic jams were engineered as political retribution by Christie loyalists and if there were threats to withhold storm recovery aid unless town officials approved a favored development. Christie’s office denies the accusations.