Washington (CNN) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie escalated the recent war of words between himself and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley on Saturday, accusing O'Malley of using the feud to elevate his national profile.
O'Malley, a Democrat, has criticized Christie's confrontational and headline-grabbing governing style, calling it a "stand-up routine" and accusing the Republican of being "abusive towards public employees." He has also called Christie a hypocrite over his tough budget talk for skipping a $3 billion payment into the state's pension fund and allowing New Jersey property taxes to increase.
Christie recently dismissed O'Malley's barbs as "pabulum."
He again scoffed at O'Malley while speaking to CNN at the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington.
"I am happy to give Governor O'Malley an opportunity to get his name in The New York Times any time he wants," Christie said. "That's all that's about."
"That's OK, though," he continued. "We are actually doing stuff in New Jersey that deal with bringing costs of government down and cutting budgets and speaking plainly to people, and if criticizing that in the short term helps Governor O'Malley raise his profile, then I am happy to help Governor O'Malley raise his profile."
O'Malley, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, was seated just feet from Christie at the NGA's bipartisan opening session on Saturday. The two men, both rising stars within their respective parties, were separated only by Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, a Democrat.
Also Saturday, Christie continued to brush off speculation that he may seek the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. He did, however, opine on the state of the race.
Christie said it's still "much too early" to evaluate the strength of the potential Republican field.
"You can't judge the strength or weakness of the field when you don't even know who is in the field," Christie said. "There could people who are saying they're not getting in now but may wind up getting in, and there may be people who are in right now but decide not to run."
Christie and his advisers recently dined with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at the New Jersey governor's mansion, and Christie said a handful of other potential presidential candidates have requested similar sit-downs. But he declined to name names.
"I am not going talk about that," he said. "When I meet with them, I'm sure they will leak it and then you'll know. So why jump the gun, really? Let them do the leaking instead of me."
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And exactly what, if anything, is the Maryland governor doing about his state's deficit? Is he depending on the feds (read: us taxpayers) to bail out his state's massive entitlement spending? If O'Malley wants a favorable reputation, then why not earn it through deeds and not cheapl words?
Go Governor Christie. Go GOP 2012!
Gov. O'Malley had it exactly right. Gov. Christie is a blowhard who isn't as popular with his own constituents as he is with the pundit world.
O'Malley, a Democrat, has criticized Christie's confrontational and headline-grabbing governing style, calling it a "stand-up routine" and accusing the Republican of being "abusive towards public employees." He has also called Christie a hypocrite over his tough budget talk for skipping a $3 billion payment into the state's pension fund and allowing New Jersey property taxes to increase.
Christie is showing up all over the network and he wants us to believe he is not interesting in running for President. Only the Tea BAggers buy that lie. Chrties is a media whore.
Governor Chris Christie is a bloviator just like Rush Limbaugh. Has anybody really heard him say something any different than what has been said over and over and over again over the past few years by all the GOP-Tea Party candidates?
Also Saturday, Christie continued to brush off speculation that he may seek the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. He did, however, opine on the state of the race.
Christie said it's still "much too early" to evaluate the strength of the potential Republican field
Yea he is running.
So O'Malley points out Christie for the fraud he is, then Christie attacks personally. Classless, useless, right-winger garbage.
still am scratching my head to figure how anyone would admit to being a democrat, muchless voting for one! Man these democrappps are losers!
Man, do all republicans have to come super-sized? This guy looks like he sweats butter.
O'Malley is just the latest Democrat wanting to go up against Christie to try & steal some of his thunder.
You'll have to overcome his appeal to the common voter with your(Democratic) tax & spend agenda. Good luck with that!
Christie is a bully who only knows how to yell over people. Great job electing idiots, New Jersey!
what afull of himself overinflated gasbag
So fat Christie's stance is that anyone who disagrees with him is only after headlines?!? Sounds a little hypocritical don't you think considering that that's exactly what Chritie does.
O'Malley spoke the truth. Christie IS abusive toward public employees. He gives tax breaks to the rich, doesn't put the money into the pension fund that he is LEGALLY OBLIGATED to do, and then tries to put the blame on the public employees who DO pay into their pension fund out of every paycheck. He's a BULLY.
Christie if anyone, should know about posturing and pandering all just to get your name in print.
He would be the SME.
Christie is a comedian, just like Beck and Limbag. O'Malley is correct.
Gee, if this makes Christie happy, I wonder what he is like when he is pissed off. The republican answer to world dominance is to attack the middle class to create a new world order.
Let me guess. O'Malley ;is in bed with the unions and is joining forces with the liberal progressive bandwagon against any Governor that tries to balance a budget and needs to cut back abuse of the taxpayers by getting concessions from the greedy unions.
We know Christie has huge budget problem but he doesn’t how to reduce … what to cut
As a Maryland resident, I will just say that O'Malley is and has been a great governor (and, having met him, a genuinely nice guy, too). I look forward to re-electing him in 2012.
Yep. It's a stand up routine. Christie is a stand up kinda guy. I just wish he'd sit down. Is he in it for the Presidency too? GOP folks love the idea of being President. If only they would focus on doing some stuff to promote progress. What was I thinking?
Now now childr.., I mean, Gentlemen...be nice.........OR WE'LL BOOT YOU BOTH OUT at the next election. I'm tired of the infantile, self-centered, chest thumping, and inflexible postures that our politicians have taken lately. It isn't helpful and it certainly isn't what I voted for...Hush up, the both of ya, and do YOUR respective jobs.
Moy Romney and Christie "dining" at the Governors mansion? What possible reason could Mit Romney have for being entertained by his hughness? I hope the governor is reimbursing the state of NJ for every penny. He's obviously planning on running for a different office. He should at least do it on how own dime.
It's not nice for Governor O'Malley to point out that the media darling, Raymond Burr, Sopranos talking Governor of NJ is not the Second Coming but just another pol with a forked tongue.
what's the matter Christie, you can dish it but you can't take it. In the words of the women of your party, MAN UP