Reports: Chris Christie Being Vetted for Trump VP Slot

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, accompanied by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, takes questions from members of the media during a news conference on Super Tuesday primary election night in the White and Gold Ballroom at The Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 1st, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A big loudmouth with ties to New Jersey could be on the Republican presidential ticket. Well, two of them.

Both The New York Times and CNN are reporting New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is being vetted as a potential running mate for presumed GOP nominee Donald Trump. Trump has said he wants to announce his VP pick at the Republican National Convention, which is being held July 18th to 21st in Cleveland.

Christie endorsed Trump in late January, not long after dropping out of the race after poor showings in the crowded Republican presidential primary in Iowa and New Hampshire. Allies quickly turned on Christie for his endorsement, but the governor has pressed on.

Christie became the subject of much Internet mockery when he looked incredibly uncomfortable while standing behind Trump on an election-night event. He even had to clarify with a quote: “No, I wasn’t being held hostage.” Trump has been generous: He helped Christie pay off campaign debt, and said in May Christie could be his running mate.

(Oh, and earlier this month The New Yorker reported Christie fetched Trump’s order at McDonald’s. Christie, again, had to clarify: “We categorically deny this ridiculous, completely invented scenario, which the writer attributed to an unnamed source’s anonymous friend,” a spokesman said.)

The Times reports Christie has been active behind the scenes in trying to line up support for Trump:

Mr. Christie has taken the transition process firmly in hand, according to people familiar with his activities, which have been kept from public view so far. He has enlisted his former top aide in Trenton, Richard H. Bagger, to help manage the transition team.

Behind the scenes, Mr. Christie has prodded his fellow governors and Republican political donors to line up behind a candidate many view with distaste. He has made only modest headway in the last few months: Mr. Trump has struggled badly with fund-raising and Mr. Christie has pleaded with donors, in personal phone calls and fund-raising events, to give him a second look.

Trump has previously said Christie would play a significant role in his White House, even if he’s not the Vice President. Christie biographer Matt Katz has speculated Christie could be Trump’s pick for attorney general, if he’s not the vice presidential nominee.

Follow @dhm on Twitter.