Paul blames Christie for spat

Sen. Rand Paul says that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie started their recent spat by arguing that libertarians had no place in the GOP.

"The party's big enough for both of us," the Kentucky Republican said on "Fox News Sunday." "The party's big enough for lots of different Republicans. This all started with him saying, 'We don't have enough room for libertarian Republicans.' The thing is, that' show we grow our party."

Paul and Christie went several rounds over national security and wasteful spending earlier this month, including Paul calling Christie "The King of Bacon." And Paul said northeastern Republicans like Christie particularly needed to welcome libertarians.

"The party in the Northeast is shrinking, almost down to nothing," Paul said. "They need to be looking to people with new and different ideas that will attract the youth, independents and even Democrats to our party."

Pressed by Fox host John Roberts on whether he agreed with the assessment of his father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Republican Christie offered "nothing," Paul said Christie did bring something.

"There's room for people who believe in bigger government in our party," Rand Paul said. "Some of the things that he seems to have promoted makes us believe that, well, he seems to think there's a lot more spending that could be going on."

Both Rand Paul and Christie are potential candidates for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.