Rand Paul: Chris Christie NRA Criticism, Sandy Aid 'Tantrum' Will Hurt Him In GOP Primary

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) may talk tough when pressing Congress to act on disaster relief or criticizing the National Rifle Association's advertising, but that's apparently not scaring Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Speaking on the Laura Ingraham show on Friday, the Kentucky senator and potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate took Christie to task for his recent admonitions.

“I think criticizing the Second Amendment movement and the over-the-top ‘give me my money’ stuff, ‘I want all 60 billion now or I’ll throw a tantrum,’ I don’t think that’s going to play well in the Republican primary,” Paul said, referring to speculation that Christie is also preparing for a 2016 White House run.

Christie has been an unabashed critic of Congress as House lawmakers proceeded slowly in their efforts to approve a $51 billion aid package for the storm-battered northeast. And on Wednesday, Christie blasted an NRA ad that used President Barack Obama's children to accuse the president of hypocrisy on gun rights, calling it "reprehensible."

In his interview, Paul characterized Christie's criticism as a retreat on gun rights.

“You have some Republicans backing down like Christie backing down and criticizing the NRA, and I think that doesn’t do any good,” he said.

Paul continued, claiming that Christie's recent moves were a sign that he was "solidifying his support with Democrats in New Jersey and maybe liberal Republicans.”