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Gov. Chris Christie (left) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush face a fight for the same establishment Republicans in 2016.

(File photos)

TRENTON — Former Republican National Committee finance chairman Mel Sembler says he's "admirer" of Gov. Chris Christie. But Sembler is lining up behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican presidential race.

Had Bush ruled out a run, "I absolutely would have looked at Christie. I'm an admirer," Sembler said in a telephone interview.

Sembler, who previously raised money for Jeb Bush's brother, President George W. Bush, and their father, President George H.W. Bush, is the kind of establishment Republican that Christie would be expected to target for his finance team. But Jeb Bush's announcement that he will "actively explore" a White House run translates into fewer money men for Christie.

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“The two of them are likely to appeal to the same groups," said Lee Cowen, who raised money for 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney and G.W. Bush and is uncommitted for 2016. "The big donors are trying to coalesce early on around one candidate.”

Sembler, a Florida shopping-center developer, served as ambasador to Australia during the first Bush administration and ambassador to Italy during the second.

"I've been associated with the family since 1979" when George H.W. Bush sought the GOP nomination that went to Ronald Reagan, Sembler said. "I have a history with them and I will continue that history."

I am excited to announce I will actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States: https://t.co/luY4lCF2cA. — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 16, 2014

Bush's activity has another impact on Christie. The New Jersey governor will have to speed up his timetable for getting into the race, said political consultant Eddie Mahe, a former Republican National Committee deputy chairman.

"Christie's time is driven by how fast Bush moves," Mahe said. "If Bush starts aggressively right after the first of the year, Christie at that point has to get into it also. Thinking you're going to get into the race and being an announced candidate are two different perceptions, People in Iowa are not going to commit to someone who they think will be a candidate if they have a Bush knocking on their door.''

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.