http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49886.html
One of Chris Christie's top political advisers revealed that he is considering formation of a federal political action committee because of the extraordinary interest in the New Jersey governor.
Bill Palatucci, often described as Christie's "political godfather," said not forming an exploratory committee is "leaving money on the table."
Palatucci, Christie's former law partner who flew well below the radar for the governor's first year in office, made the remarks even as he tried throwing cold water on the notion that the pol — who's gotten acclaim from national Republicans — is taking steps designed toward a presidential run.
"If reporters would look for a second below the surface, they'd see I've never been to Iowa," Palatucci told the paper, then added that another adviser, Mike DuHaime, "has not been to New Hampshire. There have been no lawyers hired to advise or investigate a presidential run."
But on the possibility of forming an federal committee, the paper quoted Palatucci as saying: 'I might frankly contemplate that. There's so much interest out there; it's leaving money on the table by not having one."
The newspaper reported that Palatucci was referring to a presidential exploratory committee, but in a statement to POLITICO shortly after publication of this article, Palatucci clarified that he was merely referring to a standard federal political action committee — so-called leadership PACs that politicians use to raise money and contribute to other candidates.
"I never said nor did I intend to imply that I or anyone else was considering an exploratory committee," he said. "I was musing about creating a federal committee."
The remarks were an unusual bit of candor and came as Christie again spoke last week in terms of having to commit suicide to dispel questions about whether he'll run next year.
Christie has repeatedly insisted he's not preparing to run, despite entreaties from national Republicans, pundits like Ann Coulter and plaudits from conservative editorial boards.
He's won acclaim from the right as a budget-cutter and for his battle with the teachers union in his state.
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