At Iowa conservative confab, Christie earns points just for showing up

[Valin]

Washington Examiner:

Byron York

January 22, 2015

 

DES MOINES — This weekend a large part of the 2016 GOP presidential field — contenders, maybe-contenders, and the longest of longshots — is coming here to Iowa for a gathering of conservatives organized by Rep. Steve King and Citizens United.

 

Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, John Bolton, and Donald Trump will all appear at the "Freedom Summit" on Saturday. Stars of campaigns past — like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich — will be there, too.

 

Huckabee, Santorum, and Cruz, among others, are the usual suspects of social conservative get-togethers. But organizers were surprised — happily so — when Christie accepted the invitation. He's not a conservative darling, to say the least, but he had a successful visit to Iowa with Gov. Terry Branstad last summer and has built a good relationship with King. Now, showing up means a lot.

 

"I believe Christie earns a ton of respect for being here," says Chuck Laudner, an influential GOP activist who is close to King and supported Santorum in 2012. "The one thing the base of the party wants is someone who isn't afraid of the debate."

 

(Snip)