The Christie "Comeback Tour" Travels To Middle East

Governor Chris Christie’s “Jersey Comeback Tour” moves overseas next week, as the Governor and his family travel to Israel and Jordan for a trip being billed as a trade missionThe trip comes on the heels of a whirlwind month of March for Christie, as budget season begins to heat up.

In addition to his appearance this week on “Ask The Governor,” he has maintained a hectic schedule throughout the month that has included his usual dosage of town halls, press conferences, and events, such as his Tuesday visit to new Revel Casino in Atlantic City.

Christie’s Middle East trip will start in Israel on Sunday with a stay until Thursday.  That leg of the trip is being called the Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission:  Economic Growth, Diplomacy, Observance.

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From there, the Governor and his family visit the country of Jordan from Thursday until Easter Sunday.

In addition to family members, the Governor is being accompanied by staff and a delegation of representatives from New Jersey’s business and Jewish communities.  The goal, according to a release from the Governor’s Office, is to strengthen the state’s economic and diplomatic relationships with other nations.

The Middle East mission will allow for Christie and Democrats to take a breather from the amped-up rhetoric over the past few weeks.  While the Governor maintains that he and Senate President Sweeney are on the same page with a tax cut plan, Sweeney has insisted there are major differences in their proposals.

This week, Senate Democrats came out swinging about the amount of “one-shots” in the Governor’s budget projections, which are numbers that Christie stands by.

Adding to this week’s Trenton drama is our report that Democrats are considering putting the question of a millionaires’ tax hike on the November ballot.  Governor Christie has been steadfastly against any tax hike, especially that one.

All of these issues were just this week.  There still remains the very fresh wound of Christie’s Supreme Court nominee, Phil Kwon, being dragged through the ringer last week by a Senate Judiciary Committee before being rejected.  The Governor called the move “political payback.”

Lt Governor Kim Guadagno becomes acting Governor while Christie is overseas.

While the trip will not stop all of the back and forth, it may act as a retreat to each sides’ corner before the bell sounds for the next round.