"As Republican governors who took on public employee unions in blue states, Christie and Walker would be chasing after some of the same donors and voters in the 2016 race (if both men decide to run)," reported the Standard on Thursday. "Knocking Walker out of the running now (while giving extra help to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a governor of an important early GOP primary state) could be in Christie's interest."

But in the same article the Standard cast doubt on those suspicions. The publication cited an unnamed Republican official who's familiar with RGA spending saying that the RGA has spent millions on polling, research and field operations on Walker's behalf, in addition to planned TV ad buys.

"The RGA spent $5 million on Walker in 2010 and $9 million in 2012 to help him fend off the recall effort," the Standard reported. "So RGA spending under Christie in 2014 may very well exceed previous RGA efforts for Walker."

In addition, the Standard noted: "A Christie snub of Walker would be odd, considering the fact that the two men have been friends — actual friends, not the just political friends — for several years now. And Walker has raised significant money for the RGA while Christie has been running it."

In fact, Christie is expected to be in Wisconsin to campaign with Walker next week.

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