Originally posted by huntsu at Blue Jersey.
Chris Christie is one of the dirtiest US Attorneys around. After John Ashcroft resigned as USAG, Christie got him a cushy, no-bid contract to the tune of $52 million. He's done everything but turn over graves in his zeal to investigate Democrats in the state. And now he's going after Linda Stender.
This isn't great news for Ms. Stender. After Mike Ferguson announced his intention to retire, Republicans found it difficult to find someone to run for this seat. All their first choices declined. Now there could be a real battle for this district. Stender almost defeated Ferguson in the 2006 election, and would almost certainly have beaten him this year.
Huntzu's original story and a link to contribute to Linda Stender follow after the jump.
Chris Christie is set to announce today that he will resign his position as US Attorney effective immediately to seek the Republican nomination in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
The resignation comes as a delightful surprise to many of us who have maintained all along that Christie's office was a stepping to stone to higher office. However, we always thought he was gunning for US Senate or Governor, not to succeed a weak, backbencher like Mike Ferguson.
The embargoed statement, which Bob Ingle forwarded to Blue Jersey founder Juan Melli, had little to surprise except the resignation itself.
"I've done all I can to clean up the Democratic stink in this state, and now will work to defeat Democrats as the Republican nominee in the 7th District," said Christie. "I've been after Linda Stender for six years, but I can't manufacture anything that'll stick. She is, unfortunately, an honest public servant.
"However, if I beat her bad enough in this race, though, she'll resign out of embarrassment and Marty Marks can have her seat."
Christie reportedly plans to move to Linden, NJ to a small apartment over a Dunkin Donuts. "I'm a man of the people. I don't go in for $10 Starbucks and apple fritters. Gimme a Box of Joe and a box of Munchkins and I am good to go."
Leading candidates to replace Christie as US Attorney are John Ashcroft, Andy Unanue and Rob Andrews.
You can contribute to Linda Stender's Congressional Campaign here.