Presidential races

Clinton-linked group attacks Christie

A Democratic super-PAC with close ties to Hillary Clinton has launched an attack on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who’s widely seen as a leading possible opponent to Clinton for a White House run in 2016.

Correct the Record, an arm of the Democratic super-PAC American Bridge, unveiled a graphic hitting Christie over a controversy surrounding closures of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge. Democrats say the closures were retribution against a local mayor for not endorsing Christie.

{mosads}The graphic shows a sign over the bridge reading “Lanes closed. Expect Christie?” Another highway sign reads “political retribution.”

“There’s no question that Chris Christie is classified and assumed to be a frontrunner, should he run,” Adrienne Elrod, communications director for Correct the Record, told The Hill. “We have an eye on him. This is something we’re keeping an eye on.”

Correct the Record is led by Burns Strider, a close adviser to Clinton, who directed faith outreach on her 2008 campaign.

Two of the three access lanes to the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, N.J., were closed on Sept. 8, causing traffic problems. Democrats in the state legislature have said the closures were politically motivated retribution against the mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing Christie.

A top Port Authority official originally said the closures were for a traffic study, but Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye testified Monday that there was no study. David Wildstein, a Port Authority appointee of Christie, resigned last week, calling the issue a distraction.

Christie brushed off the controversy at a Dec. 2 press conference by joking, “I worked the cones. Unbeknownst to anyone, I was working the cones.”

Correct the Record was founded last month to defend potential Democratic presidential candidates. This graphic shows the group’s more proactive side.

“We’ll be playing offensively and defensively,” Elrod said.