Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will host a fundraiser for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The event will take place in Palo Alto, where the technologist lives.
Zuckerberg previously donated $100 million to the state’s public school system. The fundraiser itself is mildly eye raising, given the popularity of President Obama in many technology circles, and Christie’s often fierce criticisms of the President during the last election cycle.
That said, it appears that Zuckerberg has his eye on education, having previously gone on Oprah alongside Christie to announce his nine-figure contribution to the state.
The technologist has made other large donations, including a $500 million gift in December, funds that could be used to work in the educational sphere as well.
According to a statement provided to Buzzfeed’s McKay Coppins by Christie spokesperson Michael DuHaime, Zuckerberg approached Christie with the idea. The cooperation between the two “illustrates that Governor Christie’s sincere efforts to improve education where it is so badly needed have not gone unnoticed,” DuHaime stated. The Governor was dedicated to the issue, even “though fighting for education reform has not always been politically popular or easy.”
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Christie himself is riding high at the moment, following his praised handling of the Sandy storm and its following clean up. During a sharp press conference he dissembled opposition in the House by his own party to an aid bill that he said was required, in full size, right away. Following, the logjam broke and the funds began to flow.
Christie is widely seen as a candidate for the 2016 Republican nomination for President. Certainly he will manage a few good photos, not to mention dollars, from his upcoming shindig with the Facebook boss.
Both Mark Zuckerberg’s team as well as Christie’s confirmed the event with Buzzfeed.
Top Image Credit: Bob Jagendorf
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