The racially insensitive tweet that was posted by a Steve Lonegan staffer and then quickly deleted has gotten the attention of Gov. Chris Christie, who was asked about it in a press conference at the State House yesterday.

Governor's Office/Tim Larsen
Governor's Office/Tim Larsen
loading...

Lonegan is expected to cruise to victory in today's Republican U.S. Senate primary race, but he's still taking heat for the tweet. Christie says he would've fired the staffer who posted it.

"Obviously the tweet in question was inflammatory and inappropriate and I think the proof that it was was that Steve ordered it taken down," says Christie. "Steve never backs away from something no matter how controversial so when he ordered that to be taken down I think that was proof positive that it was inflammatory and completely inappropriate."

The uproar started during last week's televised Democratic U.S. Senate primary debate.

A Lonegan staffer posted a tweet that said, "just leaked - Cory Booker's foreign policy debate prep notes." Underneath the script was a map of Newark with the words, West Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and more. Newark officials and others from around the state blasted the tweet as racist.

"From my perspective, I would've fired the guy who did it," claims the Governor. "Steve chose not to. I don't care if he was 21-years-old or what his position is. Putting that tweet up shows a complete lack of judgment."

According to Christie, Lonegan has a different management style and he's decided to work with the staffer and that's his call.

Political correctness is at least partly to blame for the tweet backlash according to Lonegan. Christie doesn't buy that argument.

"His actions in taking it down undercut his later defense," says the Governor. "If in fact there was nothing wrong with it then why did he take it down?"

In terms of endorsing Lonegan, Christie explains that he's said all along he fully anticipates endorsing the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate and that hasn't changed.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM