Meehan Gets Boost from New Jersey Guv Christie

Monday night, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed his unwavering support to help put fellow Republican Pat Meehan back in office, as congressman for the 7th District of Pennsylvania. There, he said Meehan would continue fighting, only this time “to stop runaway spending” by Democratic President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among other woes afflicting the country.

“It is time for change and Pat Meehan is the guy who is going to bring it to you,” Christie told the smartly dressed crowd gathered at the Springfield Country Club.

“It doesn’t get any better than that, this is the real deal,” Meehan said of Christie.

About 400 people paid $200 for a buffet dinner. The fundraiser, which included a VIP reception, added $175,000 to Meehan’s $2 million campaign coffers.

Meehan, a former Delaware County district attorney, is running against state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and third-party Independent candidate Jim Schneller.

“Pat Meehan can trot out all the ‘moderates’ like Chris Christie that he wants, but the fact of the matter is that he’s advertising himself as the tea party candidate and attending their closed door, off-the-record meetings. Voters in the 7th District deserve to know whether Meehan agrees with the tea party and their Sarah Palin politics,” Kevin McTigue, Lentz’s campaign manager stated in an e-mail after the event.

The event was Christie’s second visit to Delaware County, but the third time he’s stumped for Meehan since December.

Springfield Republican Party Chairman Michael Puppio introduced Christie as an elected official who not only keeps campaign promises, but someone whom, in some party circles, is considered a potential presidential candidate.

“What Gov. Christie has done for the state of New Jersey, Pat Meehan will do for us in Congress,” Puppio said.

Christie described Meehan as a person of character, judgment, wisdom and steadfastness. With plans to continue stumping hard around the country through Election Day Nov. 2, Christie said no endorsement he could make would be more heartfelt.

“Pat Meehan has never let me down and he is not going to let you down either,” said Christie, noting Meehan would bring the same prosecutor attitude to Washington, D.C., that he’s brought to the governor’s office in New Jersey.

“We understand as prosecutors we have to back up our words,” Christie said.

Meehan said he was proud to stand alongside Christie as federal prosecutors, and he’s proud now of his leadership and his “Bruce Springsteen no-nonsense approach” to tough issues.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are fighting for the future of America,” Meehan said. “This is not about Pat Meehan. This is about our children, and the future of our country.”

Pointing to the evening’s headliner, Meehan said Christie is showing in New Jersey what can be done, fiscally and ethically.

“What they are doing (in Washington, D.C.) simply isn’t working right now,” Meehan said.

“Give me the chance to be your voice,” he said.

Meehan reminded the crowd that as Southeastern Pennsylvania goes at the polls, often “so goes the state.” But without a GOP majority in the House of Representatives, he said even the best of efforts would be moot.

“We have to have the ability to ask questions and make them show up with the answers,” he said.

On day one as 7th District congressman, after taking his oath and finding his seat, Meehan said his first vote would be “to repeal Nancy Pelosi.”

Christie urged the audience to remain on guard, to continue making that extra phone call and that extra knock on the door to ensure votes at the polls.

“Nothing can be taken for granted in this race,” he said. “We do not want to be sitting here on election night thinking we could have done a little bit more.”
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