Christie Taking Helm of GOP Gov’s Group

Governor Chris Christie will become chairman of the Republican Governors Association as the group convenes its annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona today.

Confirmed attendees include  Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Rick Scott of Florida. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is also attending, but RGA officials say Wisconsin's Scott Walker and one other governor will miss the event.

The governor has already said that those duties will take him out of New Jersey many times during his second term as he takes on a higher profile within the party as he prepares for a possible run for President in 2016. Republicans expect Christie to be a strong RGA leader. “He has more of the abilities to be a strong RGA chairman than many governors, because he is from the New York media market, so he’s much better known in the business community than the average governor,” former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour told Politico.

Christie will also become more closely associated with the national Republican party but it may not be a factor in his national plans Christie has worked to establish himself as a party outsider. "“I don’t see much of a downside for him. It’s a great platform.” GOP strategist Alex Castellanos tells Politico.

The role of Chairman will also give Christie the opportunity to expand his fundraising ability across the country.

The association is the main political organization for the nation's 30 GOP governors. The event at the Phoenician resort focuses on strategy and Republican public policy goals.