South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley stood by fellow Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey on Thursday, after Christie publicly apologized for the lane closures that a now-fired member of his staff helped orchestrate to punish a local New Jersey mayor.
“I’ve watched my friend Gov. Christie work through a difficult situation today,” Haley wrote on Facebook Thursday. “He did the right thing in taking responsibility in a tough situation. That’s the kind of leadership that earned him the huge level of trust he has in New Jersey.”
Christie apologized Thursday after published emails revealed that top aides of his had worked to close several lanes on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge to gridlock Fort Lee, punishing the city’s mayor for not endorsing Christie’s re-election bid.
Haley’s support is important for Christie as questions abound regarding what the bridge situation will mean for his prospects as a 2016 presidential hopeful. Christie is the new head of the Republican Governors Association, and as governor of South Carolina, a state whose primary all presidential hopefuls pass through en route to the nomination, Haley will undoubtedly play a role in the 2016 Republican primary. (RELATED: Boehner says Christie still viable 2016 contender)