Karl Rove: Chris Christie Earned Himself Some Tea Party ‘Street Cred’ This Week

Rove: Christie’s Handling of Bridge Scandal Gives Him ‘Tea Party Street Cred’ (Mediaite)

Republican strategist Karl Rove told a Fox News Sunday panel that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s response to the BridgeGate scandal would, if anything, help him with the conservative constituency that has been seen as his biggest obstacle to the 2016 Republican presidential nominations.

“I don’t think the tea party is going to seize upon Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge as their defining difference for Chris Christie,” Rove said. “In fact, I think his handling of this, being straightforward, taking action, saying I’m responsible, firing the people, probably gives him some street cred with tea party Republicans who say ‘That’s what we want in a leader, someone who steps up and takes responsibility.’”

“When Glenn Beck says conservatives should run away,” Juan Williams countered, “when Rush Limbaugh says this is payback and this is the kind of Sopranos politics—”