By Chris Miles

Rand Paul Slams Chris Christie For Being Too Liberal Election 2016 Just Got Under Way

The next Republican presidential primary is already heating up.

On Friday, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) slammed New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for his recent positions — from the Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill to his views on gun control —saying they would likely alienate GOP primary voters.

On Thursday, Christie — a Republican darling who many called on to run in the 2012 presidential campaign — weighed in to the recent NRA ad against President Barack Obama, taking the president’s side and ad “reprehensible.”

Paul, who is reportedly leaning heavily towards a 2016 presidential run, said on The Laura Ingraham Show: “I think criticizing the Second Amendment movement and the over-the-top ‘give me my money’ stuff, ‘I want all 60 billion now or I’ll throw a tantrum,’ I don’t think that’s going to play well in the Republican primary.”

“You have some Republicans backing down like Christie backing down and criticizing the NRA, and I think that doesn’t do any good,” Paul said, according to a transcript.

“I think he may be solidifying his support with Democrats in New Jersey and maybe liberal Republicans,” Paul said of Christie’s recent positions.

Christie has received criticism from a number of conservatives recently.

PolicyMic Pundit Ethan Case said this:

“I could give (Christie) the Obama photo-op days before the election, but to blatantly ignore reality and throw your own team under the bus (I’d even forgive that if they actually deserved it!) and create false outrage over something you knew full well would be taken care of in a few days anyway is what is really ‘reprehensible.’”