HUD probes N.J.’s Sandy marketing campaign

Federal officials are taking a closer look at how the Christie administration spent $25 million to promote the Jersey shore in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s office says the inspector general at the Housing and Urban Development Department will audit the campaign, which featured commercials in which Gov. Chris Christie and his family appeared.

HUD’s Inspector General’s Office conducted a basic review of the issue at Pallone’s urging last year. The New Jersey Democrat says the office says it found enough evidence to justify a full audit of federal funds.

The administration paid $4.7 million to a politically-connected public relations company over another firm that had bid $2 million less. The winning bidder proposed using Christie in the ads, while the other bidder did not.