Christie’s Gay Marriage Decision Has Primary Consequences
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Republican Chris Christie’s decision Monday to drop his administration’s legal challenge to same-sex marriage made perfect sense for the governor of New Jersey.
But for the potential 2016 presidential candidate, whose path would presumably start in Iowa — where the Republican Party is dominated by social conservatives — the calculation is a bit more complicated.
Bob Vander Plaats, Iowa’s powerful evangelical conservative, put it bluntly Monday.
“Gov. Christie has basically backed away from one of the most fundamental social institutions — marriage, between one man and one woman,” said Vander Plaats, who heads The Family Leader organization and is considering a U.S. Senate run.
“This is not going to play well for him if he chooses to enter the Republican primary for president of the United States,” he said. “It will have tentacles way beyond Iowa.”
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