In a Wednesday interview with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – aired in full on Thursday morning – NBC's Today co-host Matt Lauer grilled the potential 2016 contender on the year-old Bridgegate controversy: "...we could be talking during a week where indictments could be handed down in what has now become known as Bridgegate....How much, in real terms, has Bridgegate tarnished you Governor?"
Christie pushed back on the assertion by pointing to the obsessive media coverage of the issue: "I don't think anybody likes to have something like that happen on their watch....because it was a bad thing to have happened, but also in part, because of the incredible coverage that it got."
Lauer proceeded to tout how much the scandal hurt Christie: "Prior to Bridgegate, your national popularity somewhere in the forties, high 40%. After Bridgegate, nationally, about 28%. In New Jersey, prior to Bridgegate, in the upper sixties, some people say in the seventies. After Bridgegate, 35%. That's a big hit."
Christie again cited the press hype: "Sure it is. You know, Matt, if they played as many negative things about you as was played about me intensely over and over again, it's going to affect anybody. But that's in the past."
The Governor's criticism of the extensive coverage was well warranted. A 2014 Media Research Center study found that the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC devoted a stunning 88 minutes of air time to the Bridgegate story in less that 48 hours after it broke on January 8 of that year.
In a portion of the Christie interview aired on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, Lauer tried to declare the would-be candidate's 2016 presidential bid over before it began: "Is it possible...that your moment passed?"
Lauer wrapped up the Thursday segment with a series of fill-in-the-blank questions:
LAUER: President Obama made my country...
CHRISTIE: Weaker.
LAUER: In 2017, ObamaCare will be...
CHRISTIE: Repealed and replaced.
LAUER: In 2017, gay marriage will be...
CHRISTIE: Hmm. Decided by the U.S. Supreme Court I suspect...
LAUER: Which way?
CHRISTIE: Don't know.
LAUER: In 2017, Common Core will be...
CHRISTIE: Probably no longer a factor in American life.
LAUER: And last one, in 2017, my work address will be...
CHRISTIE: We'll see. I don't know. I don't know.
Later in the show, Lauer aired an exchange with Christie and his wife. The focus was on their family and the Governor's weight loss.
Here is a transcript of the Bridgegate portion of the interview aired on the April 16 Today:
(...)
7:07 AM ET
LAUER: Let's talk about the last year-and-a-half, though. Obviously, and we could be talking during a week where indictments could be handed down in what has now become known as Bridgegate. And while nobody thinks you'll be indicted, some of your close advisers of the past could be indicted. How much, in real terms, has Bridgegate tarnished you Governor?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Chris Christie One-on-One; Opens Up About Political Fallout From "Bridgegate"]
CHRISTIE: Listen, I don't think anybody likes to have something like that happen on their watch. And there's no question that it affects you. No question. Because – in part, because it was a bad thing to have happened, but also in part, because of the incredible coverage that it got.
LAUER: Let's talk about some numbers, okay?
CHRISTIE: Sure.
LAUER: Prior to Bridgegate, your national popularity somewhere in the forties, high 40%. After Bridgegate, nationally, about 28%. In New Jersey, prior to Bridgegate, in the upper sixties, some people say in the seventies. After Bridgegate, 35%. That's a big hit.
CHRISTIE: Sure it is. You know, Matt, if they played as many negative things about you as was played about me intensely over and over again, it's going to affect anybody. But that's in the past. And poll numbers go up and they go down based upon your performance, and I am far, far from finished with my career. So you know, you have the chance to go back up again.
LAUER: But in the big picture, Governor, there was a time where when people talked about 2016, all of the buzz on the Republican side was about you. Is it possible that while you were dealing – I don't want to call them distractions because that makes them sound trivial – with these serious issues of Bridgegate back in New Jersey, that your moment passed?
CHRISTIE: I don't know and neither do you. We'll see. But I'll you this much, I've been the frontrunner before. It's a place where the bull's eye's on your back and everybody's shooting at you. So that's okay. I'm fine with exactly where I am right now because I haven't changed. Because all that other stuff's artificial until the game really begins. And the game hasn't even come close to beginning.
(...)
