Despite Bridge Scandal, Christie Raises Big Money for RGA

Despite the storm clouds following New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the Republican Governors Association - where he serves as chairman - is crediting him for a hefty haul.

The RGA says it raised $6 million in January with the help of Christie and other GOP governors, more than double the previous high for fundraising during the same month in organization history.

Christie's trip last week to Texas raised $1.5 million, the RGA reports. The organization announced last month that in 2013 the RGA raised $50 million and has $50 million cash on hand, twice as much as what the organization raised in 2010.

In a statement, RGA communications director Gail Gitcho says the group has "solid financial footing to elect and re-elect Republican governors in the 36 gubernatorial races" in 2014 and is in a "strong position to counter the public sector union influence on the other side."

"Donors are active because Republican governors are the leaders producing real results for their states; implementing policies to create jobs, balancing budgets without raising taxes, improving education, and making their states more attractive to business," Gitcho said in a statement.

Christie has already made fundraising stops in Florida and Texas and will continue to raise money for the RGA in other states, including Massachusetts, Utah, Georgia, Connecticut and Michigan.

Christie will headline a Tuesday event at the Economic Club of Chicago, where he will participate in a conversation moderated by Greg Brown, CEO of Motorola Solutions. He will also attend two fundraisers for the RGA.

On Thursday he will hold his first town hall since the George Washington Bridge lane closures scandal broke. It is Christie's 110th town hall and he will focus on the state's continued recovery since 2012's Superstorm Sandy. He will then travel to Washington, DC for the annual New Jersey Chamber of Commerce trip where he will address members of New Jersey's congressional delegation and business community.