Bob Jordan

@BobJordanAPP

As a potential gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno would be expected to start making efforts to distance herself from her boss and his 19 percent favorability rating.

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Gov. Chris Christie has a different take: Not so fast.

Christie disclosed earlier this week that he and Guadagno have an agreement whereby she won’t go public with their disagreements unless she checks in with him first.

It’s unclear how the arrangement benefits Christie. Because of term limits, he’s ineligible to have his name on the ballot for the 2017 election. But for Guadagno, being prevented from going rogue in next year's campaign for the Republican nomination will diminish her appeal to voters fed up with Christie, Seton Hall University political scientist Matthew Hale said Tuesday.

"If I were advising the lieutenant governor, I would suggest she clarify that she doesn't really have to ask for permission to disagree with the governor,'' Hale said. "Out of respect for him and the office she might disagree with him in private first but she needs to make it clear that she can and will disagree with him when she wants to.''

Guadagno was seemingly on the way to getting a running start on next year's campaign when Christie was rumored to be line for job in President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

But there's been no job offer for Christie since he met the president-elect at Trump's private golf club in Bedminster on Sunday. Guadagno would succeed Christie if he resigns as governor.

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So instead of Guadagno getting out from Christie's shadow, she'll have to choose between buttoning her lip or breaking the agreement, Hale said.

Last week Guadagno was scheduled for the keynote speech at the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City -- until Christie showed up at the last minute and bumped her from the program. "I was ready to give a speech," Guadagno said then. "I'll have to give it another time."

Guadagno said there are other times when she and Christie don't see eye to eye.

"Am I now speaking out loudly (on those occasions)? Yes, '' she said.

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Christie and Guadagno made their comments in separate appearances on NJ-101.5 FM.

"There are going to be times we have disagreements," Christie said on Monday night. "And in the past, those disagreements have remained private. Because she served me as my lieutenant governor exclusively. That was her job."

Christie said he spoke with Guadagno over the summer and they agreed that if there is an issue she wants to dispute publicly, that they need to talk about it first.

Guadagno on Tuesday told interviewer Bill Spadea she heard what Christie had to say. She didn't address their agreement.

"The professional relationship -- you know, I'm in my lane,'' Guadagno said. "When I have a complaint about what's going on in the front office I walk down the hall and make it clear to people, and sometimes it's been a fairly loud conversation.''

More: Guadagno has Christie disagreements but they stay private

Guadagno spokeswoman Suzanne Schwab said the two have an agreement but it's wrong to characterize Guadagno as needing permission to speak out.

"She will not ask for permission to speak out. She has never asked for permission to speak out and she has no intention to. I don’t know what (Christie) meant. Obviously I can’t speak for the governor’s office. But I know what she has said and that’s not what she agreed to,'' Schwab said.

"I realize it’s different from what he said,'' she added.

More: Guadagno raising her profile with regular radio spotGuadagno has said she will make a decision on running for governor after the holidays.

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Guadagno was a leader of a failed revolt against the gasoline tax Christie signed into law by urging voters to defeat a ballot question that sought a constitutional safeguard for the money raised by that increase, the largest in state history. The measure was approved.

Hale of Seton Hall said Guadagno's predicament is unique. If Christie leaves office early, Guadagno's future will get a little brighter, he said.

"Kim Guadagno is a longshot regardless of whether she is lieutenant governor or governor because Chris Christie has so damaged the Republican brand in New Jersey that no one with a "R" next to their name is going to be a favorite for governor in our state for a long time,'' Hale said. "However, the New Jersey governor has immense power to reward and to punish so I do think even being in the office for a year would help Guadagno's chances. Probably not enough to win but certainly to make it closer.''

Christie in his radio interview refused to say he'd support a Guadagno campaign.

"It would be premature for me to answer that question,'' he said. "The lieutenant governor has to first decide whether she wants to be governor.''

When asked if Guadagno would be a good governor, Christie didn't answer directly, but said, "I think she'd do a good job.''

"I am not in the room with either Trump and Christie, or Christie and Guadagno, so speculating on those relationships is just speculating,'' Hale said. "However I do know that it looks like 6th grade politics. Donald is bullying Chris so Chris starts bullying Kim.''

Bob Jordan bjordan@gannettnj.com