Howard Dean to Rand Paul: 'Do Not Take On a Guy From Jersey'

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean called the ideological argument between Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie "fascinating to watch," but said the "lesson No. 1 for Rand Paul: Do not take on a guy from Jersey."

"You're not going to win a fight like this with Chris Christie. That's not the way it's going to happen," the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee said Thursday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Paul and Christie have had a fiery exchange of words over the past several days. On Wednesday Paul offered a truce, inviting Christie to have a beer with him, but was rebuffed by Christie who said he was busy campaigning for re-election.

As for the larger ideological issues facing Republicans, Dean said, "The real problem is, the grass-roots of the Republican Party is at odds with what the policymakers understand really has to happen. They are way out there," Dean said.

"The national races are going to get tainted by what's going on in Texas and North Carolina in terms of the anti-abortion, anti-union, anti-everything. I think the Republicans have trouble. They really do," he said.

Related:

• Christie Rejects Rand Paul's Proposal for a Beer Peace Summit
  
• Rand Paul: Christie's Rhetoric Full of 'Low Blows'
  
• Christie Calls Rand Paul's Public Comments About Him 'Juvenile'