The GOP 's conservative base has never warmed to Christie . Christie 's public embrace of President Obama in 2012 hurt him with Republicans . GOP Sen. Rand Paul , a tea party favorite seemed to take a dig at Christie . Comment:
The GOP 's conservative base has never warmed to Christie . Christie 's public embrace of President Obama in 2012 hurt him with Republicans . GOP Sen. Rand Paul , a tea party favorite seemed to take a dig at Christie . But a GOP strategist says : `` I do not believe there 's going to be any retribution from conservatives over this ''