George Washington Bridge political scandal threatens Chris Christie's presidential dream

WHAT HAPPENED?

Who would have thought that a traffic jam on a bridge will threaten a US presidential dream? Such bijli, sadak, bridge issues are so Indian. But look at the political scandal that Chris Christie, the brash Republican governor of New Jersey, is caught in.

Texts and emails reportedly show that his top aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, played a key role in closing some lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge, one of the world's busiest bridges, causing hourslong traffic snarls - especially in Fort Lee area - for four days in September. Not just commuters but emergency responders who had to attend to medical situations were delayed.

AND WHY WAS THIS DONE?

Reportedly, this was just to spite the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, who did not endorse Christie's re-election efforts. And for that, Fort Lee was turned into a gigantic parking lot.

WHAT'S CHRISTIE SAYING?

That "he is outraged and deeply saddened", that he was "misled by a member of my staff", that this "was made without my knowledge".

BUT THE EMAILS ARE THE SMOKING GUN

Kelly wrote to an executive at the Port Authority that oversees the bridge: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." The executive, David Wildstein, replied in an email: "Got it." Later text messages mocked concerns that school buses filled with students were stuck in gridlock: "They are the children of Buono voters," Wildstein wrote, referring to Christie's opponent Barbara Buono.

NOW WHAT?

Christie, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, is enormously popular. He won his second term by a landslide in November. But there have been questions about how far his blunt, tough-talking "Jersey" posturing - he is known for shouting matches, hurling insults and belittling challengers - will take him on the national stage.

Now will the aam commuter of New Jersey forgive him for this callousness to them? That's not going to be easy, Christie.