Facing investigations, subpoenas, and political attacks stemming from the George Washington Bridge scandal, there’s no doubt New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is in for a tough time in coming months. What many Democrats are mulling at the moment is how they can help make that time as tough as possible — without overplaying their hand.

“I don’t think he understands fully yet how this will derail planning for running for president,” says one Democratic Party official of Christie. “He’s going to have to spend the next six months to a year, when he should be hiring staff and building a national network, instead dealing with investigations he never imagined before. And that’s paralyzing to a person trying to build a presidential campaign.”