Christie votes for Guadagno

(Governor’s Office/ Mykwain Gainey)

Governor Chris Christie told reporters this morning that he voted for Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno in the Republican gubernatorial primary this morning, according to a report in PolticoNewJersey.

“I voted for the lieutenant governor,” Christie said.

Christie’s vote for Guadagno was not assumed, despite her serving as his second-in-command for eight years. The governor had previously declined to endorse her or any of her four opponents, and tensions in their relationship became public as Guadagno began distancing herself from the deeply unpopular Christie in the run-up to her campaign.

“I think the biggest endorsement you can give somebody is your vote. I’ve worked with her for eight years and I believe she’s the best person in the Republican primary to represent the party in the fall and to retain the governorship,” Christie said outside his polling place, an emergency services building.

Christie’s endorsement this late in nominating process is not likely to influence the outcome today’s primary. Christie inevitably would have endorsed the Republican nominee ( and will if anyone other than Joe Rudy Rullo wins the nomination tonight).

The Guadagno campaign has not responded to a call for comment on the endorsement.