JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie appears confident in his presidential prospects despite the ongoing bridge scandal that has tarnished his national reputation.

Gov. Christie dances with Jimmy Fallon
Gov. Christie dances with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
loading...

During an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" that aired late Thursday night, Christie was asked whether, "hypothetically," he thinks he could beat Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton in a one-on-one matchup.

"Hypothetically? You bet," responded the Republican governor. Fallon added, "in a dance off" to which Christie replied, "that's what I was talking about. What were you talking about?"

Christie was considered a top 2016 contender ibefore news broke that members of his administration redirected traffic on the George Washington Bridge in an apparent act of political retribution.

Fallon got a stare from Christie as he brought up Bridgegate and how  "some late night shows" were "mean and rude" about it. As Christie, sitting on the couch, moved closer to Fallon, the host offered a "sorry" for his performance with Bruce Springsteen of "Governor Chris Christie's Fort Lee, New Jersey Traffic Jam" in January. Christie said he accepted Fallon's apology.. Fallon added that he admired Christie for "standing in the ring" and staying focused while the media "hit him hard" at the height of the Bridgegate coverage.  Christie joked his dancing was more humiliating to his family than the scandal.

Fallon complimented Christie for his weight loss and said that Eric Cantor's loss was "unfortunate" but didn't think it would have a long term effect. He says parties and candidates fight it out and "whoever wins, wins."

On the show, Christie poked fun at the scandal and participated in a recurring segment called "the evolution of dad dancing" that featured him busting various moves. Fallon got in a shot with the dance "This bridge is closed" to which the governor expressed mock disbelief and walked off to end the sketch.

Fallon also congratulated Christie for his "Father of the Year" awatd, who lamented that only one of his four children showed up for the award ceremony. "But, you ate the other three lunches," joked Fallon as Christie called him a "putz" for "going right to the weight jokes." Discussion of the Rangers win in game 4 of the Stanley Cup brought a smile to Christie's face and a shot back at Fallon as the governor noted that Fallon was at game 3 when the Rangers lost while he was at game 4, calling Fallon a "bad luck charm."

 


See Gov. Christie and Fallon in the "Evolution of Dad Dancing" segment below.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM