Chris Christie visits Flowood, fields Bridgegate questions

In his first public appearance since Friday's indictment of two of his former allies in "Bridgegate," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie glad-handed patrons at Primos Café in Flowood.

"Keep talking straight," a Primos diner encouraged Christie as he and Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant toured the restaurant.

Christie, a potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate, spoke at a private Mississippi GOP fundraiser earlier Tuesday. He then visited Primos to stump for Bryant, who inadvertently referred to him as "Governor Perry" at the start of a brief press conference.

Christie briefly fielded a couple of questions about the George Washington Bridge scandal – repeating his insistence he had nothing to do with it. On Friday, a Christie ally pleaded guilty to federal charges while indictments were unveiled against Christie's former deputy chief of staff and a former port official.

The charges Friday come from a federal investigation of the 2013 closures of access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to the George Washington Bridge. The lane closures, which snarled traffic for days on the world's busiest bridge, were allegedly retribution for Fort Lee's Democratic Mayor refusing to endorse Christie's re-election.

"Three investigations – an internal investigation, an investigation by a very partisan Democratic legislature and an independent investigation by the United States attorney -- all came to the same conclusion, that I had nothing to do with this," Christie said Tuesday. "All you can do is tell the truth and that's what I've done and what I will continue to do."

An attorney for Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff, who pleaded not guilty to charges in the bridge case, suggested Friday he might subpoena Christie to testify in the case.

Christie on Tuesday said he'd be happy to cooperate.

"If they want to subpoena me, that's fine," Christie said. "I fully cooperated with the investigation from the very beginning and I'm happy to tell anybody everything I know, which I've done with three separate investigations."

Christie on Tuesday said he hasn't decided on a presidential run.

"When I decide – as you know I'm not the shy, retiring type – so when I decide I will make sure and let everyone know," Christie said. "I have a day job, and I have a budget to get done between now and June."

Christie, known for blunt talk and eschewing niceties, said he believes that would appeal to Mississippians – not that he's running at this point.

"I've met a lot of people in Mississippi, and I haven't found any who aren't direct," Christie said. He then chided a reporter, "Can I finish my answer before you ask your next question?"

"I think people across this country want folks who are going to look them in the eye and tell them the truth as they see it … I think people in Mississippi are just as ready for direct talk as people in Iowa, New Hampshire or New Jersey or California."

Several state Republican dignitaries accompanied Christie and Bryant to Primos on Tuesday.

Conservative GOP leader and former state Sen. Lee Yancey said he believes a Christie-for-president "would have a tremendous crossover appeal" among moderate Democrats.

State Sen. Josh Harkins, R-Flowood, said Christie is "frank and honest and says what he means."

Hinds County Supervisor and Republican Central District PSC candidate Tony Greer said, "He's a very direct man – my kind of guy. He shoots straight and he's direct."

The state Democratic Party was less charitable about Christie's visit.

"While Governor Bryant may be proud to stand with a politician embroiled in scandal, Democrats think Mississippi deserves better," a statement from Mississippi Democratic Party spokeswoman Ouida Meruvia said. "Much like Bryant, Christie claims to be a problem-solver who gets things done, but not only has his administration been synonymous with abuse of power, his failed leadership has driven his state's economy and finances into the ditch and left the middle class even further behind."

Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.