In a state where political blood feuds have been a proud tradition, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, went to extremes trying to live up to the legend: They hated each other and made it known.
Lautenberg's death Monday may represent the veteran senator's closing bid on the last laugh: The timing of his passing is likely to create as many headaches for Christie — a high-profile 2016 presidential hopeful — as it presents opportunities.
Lautenberg's death means that Christie must now navigate, in a more conspicuous fashion, the tricky political currents at the confluence of his long-term national ambitions and his current bid for re-election in perpetually "blue" New Jersey.
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