Gov. Christie, 2016 GOP favorite, at fundraiser at Scarpa home

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visited the South Ocean Boulevard home of John and Jana Scarpa Thursday evening for a campaign fundraiser. The event, which started at 5 p.m., was closed to the press. While he is not a declared candidate for the presidency in 2016, a national poll released Thursday says Christie, a Republican, and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, are the two favorites to win.

If the next presidential election were held today, the Quinnipiac University poll says, Christie would attract more votes than U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin — but would lose in a head-to-head matchup against Clinton. Democrats he would defeat, the poll said, are Vice President Joseph Biden and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Palm Beach Town Councilman Bill Diamond, speaking by telephone from the fundraiser, said he observed “a lot of enthusiasm” for Christie, who was taking time to speak to everyone and pose for photos before beginning his speech around 6:30 p.m.

Christie is currently running for re-election in New Jersey, which Diamond said he’ll win in a “blowout.” Diamond said he would like to see a Christie-Rubio GOP ticket in the 2016 presidential election.

Some info on Rubio at: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/world/top-gop-pick-in-town/nWkcm/