Mr. Christie has criticized the trip as symbolic of New Jersey's backroom politics reputation.

WSJ: Riding the 'Schmooze Cruise' From Newark to D.C.

Their other advantage is that mayors can sometimes take the politics out of local politics albeit not in London, a huge, symbolic prize that the parties covet.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

Running a business is not like politics, where people with particular characteristics are sometimes appointed to high positions for symbolic reasons.

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