Christie slaps at Harrison

Former Gov. Chris Christie launched a Twitter attack on political science professor Brigid Callahan Harrison, the first Democrat to formally enter the race against party-switcher Jeff Van Drew.

“The ‘neutral’ academic, Brigid Callahan Harrison, who for years was run to by the press to get ‘independent’ commentary is now running as a liberal Democrat in the 2nd Congressional district in South Jersey,” Christie said.

Harrison has never distanced herself from her longtime ties to Democrats.  She ran a strong race for Atlantic County freeholder in 1996 while still in her 20s and was the secretary of the county Democratic organization.

Christie criticized Harrison for sitting on panels “for my gubernatorial debates as a ‘fair’ and ‘unbiased’ questioner.”

“Shame on the media and University sponsors of those events for trying to fool the public,” Christie tweeted.  “Any wonder why Republicans think the press is in the tank for Democrats She is just another proof point.”

The former Republican governor did not include in his comments that the media and academic debate sponsors are selected by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, whose members are nominated by the governor.

POLITICO New Jersey reporter Ryan Hutchins tweeted a defense of Harrison.

“She announced several years ago that she had become a partisan,” Hutchins wrote.