Gov. Christie 'Energizing' at Gloucester County Republican Fundraiser

A sold-out crowd of around 250 Republicans turned out for Gov. Chris Christie’s appearance at a fundraiser at Nicolosi’s Catering in West Deptford Wednesday night, as the county party added more than $30,000 to its war chest in a single night.

The $150 a head evening went to funding the campaign for the five county candidates—Phil Dieser, Jeff Morris, Richard Hickey, Margie Love and Tom Thistle—and county party chair and freeholder Larry Wallace said it was a big deal to have Christie in town 75 days ahead of the November election.

“The Republicans are making great strides in Gloucester County,” Wallace said, “and Christie’s presence proved we are on the path to providing our residents with smaller and more affordable government come November.”

Wallace and fellow Republican freeholder Vince Nestore were elected two years ago, but the party lost out in 2011, as Democrats held the three county positions—all on the freeholder board—that were up for grabs.

The governor’s Gloucester County trip came six days before he’s scheduled to give the keynote address on the opening night of the national Republican convention in Tampa, FL.

“Gov. Christie’s speech was energizing and really rallied our troops,” Wallace said. “I can’t wait to hear our governor deliver the keynote speech and do the same thing for our entire Republican Party.”

Christie’s visit to West Deptford came after a whirlwind tour of South Jersey—the governor held his first town hall in Salem County in the afternoon and headed to a fundraiser for Cumberland County Republicans before getting to Gloucester County.