Some welcome news for Christie:
The U.S. Justice Department investigation into Gov. Chris Christie’s role in the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal has thus far uncovered no evidence indicating that he either knew in advance or directed the closure of traffic lanes on the span, federal officials tell NBC 4 New York. … Federal officials caution that the investigation that began nine months ago is ongoing and that no final determination has been made, but say that authorities haven’t uncovered anything that indicates that Christie knew in advance or ordered the closure of traffic lanes.
Morrissey reacts:
Does this make Christie a winner in Bridgegate? Well, that might be a stretch, but he’s not going to be the big loser in it. Had his critics just stuck to focusing on his executive skills and lack of control in his office this scandal might have hurt, but the hysteria of blowing up Bridgegate into a Watergate-scale scandal created a bubble that popped in their faces.
Cillizza views this as “very good news for Christie and his potential 2016 presidential prospects”:
For the first time in a long time, Christie can at least see a plausible path back to the top tier of a Republican presidential primary. He remains the most naturally gifted communicator in the potential field and, assuming that Bridgegate is truly behind him, the person with the best relationships with the Wall Street major donor crowd that helps provide the financial backbone to presidential candidates. Now, with the dark cloud of the looming investigation seemingly gone, those traits have a far better chance of shining through.
Jennifer Rubin talks up his presidential prospects:
The question for Christie and his supporters is how much damage this has done and what, if any, are his prospects for a presidential run. On one hand the scandal froze the donor community and may have stirred the Jeb Bush buzz. But ultimately no clear frontrunner emerged and while he’s been more focused on New Jersey, other big names have gotten banged around (e.g. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul) or have disappeared from the national stage altogether (e.g. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker). Moreover, Christie has kept up a furious pace of fundraising and campaigning for the Republican Governors Association, work that earns appreciation from candidates and close contact with big donors. All the while Christie remained near the top of the 2016 polls.
In short, his momentum was stopped but there doesn’t seem to be serious damage to his prospects.
Adam Wollinger agrees that Christie’s work with the governors association could set him up for a run:
Christie insists that he is completely focused on the elections at hand this fall—and he’s undoubtedly provided a great deal of help to Republicans on the ballot in 2014. The RGA has raised $75 million since he took over as chairman in November 2013, and candidates’ campaign coffers have benefited from Christie’s visits. But that doesn’t mean he can’t tend to his own political ambitions along the way, too.
At a press conference in Trenton on Thursday, Christie said his recent campaign stops will factor into his decision regarding the 2016 presidential race. “That’s all stuff for me to consider, to take into account,” he said. “It affects it in the sense that it gives me a window into … what that would be like. And it gives my family a window into what that would be like. And so that will all wind up, I believe, affecting the decision that we make come the beginning of next year.”
(Photo: By Kena Betancur/Getty Images. Title hat tip: Jeryl Bier.)
The Dish 