(CNN) – California Gov. Jerry Brown defended his recent fitness challenge against New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday, saying the move was not a swipe at the Republican governor's weight, but a way to show that people his age aren’t over the hill.
"(It) essentially says this old retread can beat you any day of the week," Brown said on CNN's "State of the Union."
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At the Republican National Convention, Christie referred to the California governor as an "old retread." So Brown challenged Christie to a three-mile race, as well as a chin-up and pushup contest.
Christie responded Wednesday, telling reporters at a press conference that "Brown can have that contest with himself."
The California governor, however, stood by his invitation Sunday, saying he got "warmed up" in the speech where he initially called for the face-off.
"I'm old. Yes, well, I'm 74. I'll be 74 and a half next month," Brown said Sunday. "But here I am. You know, there is some experience. Hopefully, there's some wisdom. So I got kind of warmed up."
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
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If it's at all possible for Christie he should simply eat in moderation unless he's addicted and as with any addiction one ideally needs an awakening such as an alcoholic gets when he's struck sober or in many cases drags his tired body and spirit into a 12 step group and works a program of recovery.
Christie looks like a beach ball with a golf ball stuck on top. He is an egotistical idiot. He is also a coward in not accepting Gov. Brown's challenge. What a WIMP !!!!!!!!
"At the Republican National Convention, Christie referred to the California governor as an 'old retread.'"
I don't think Gov. Christie was referring to Mr. Brown's physical attributes.
Clinton had to do it – his wake up call was quadruple bypass surgery. Now he's a vegan!
"Christie responded Wednesday, telling reporters at a press conference that "Brown can have that contest with himself."
I bet that alone raised his heart rate.
gerry, whatever you do, don't challenge him to any type of eating contest. he'll end up scarfing you down along with the hot dogs or donuts.
Poor guy. He will have a heart attack soon enough.
christie couldnt run a block and he is half the age of Gov Brown. He is eating New Jersey out of house and home
Christie has way more brain mass than gov moonbeam...........
Christie is simply unfit to lead period! A true embarassment to Americans in general!
heart attach waiting to happen. he needs to do something soon. no joke
HA HA! So funny when Democrats make fun of people with physical disabilities! GO DEMS!
Gov. Health is everyone's greatest asset. Please do something about your weight.
Christie is a huge example of the obesity crisis we have in America. He has a family and an important job, but his health has no importance at all apparently.
I will take Brown's ideas the second time around over the back breaking dim ideas of the Hut.
well no interest if it did not involve snacks !!!
Gov. Christie, should cut the tough guy act, and get on a treadmill, have some fruits, lot's of water on and on we all know the drill,he has a young family,you would think him being around for graduations and weddings would "FORCE" him to get healthy,and "LIVE" for his family.He would rather travel the country calling people stupid and telling them to shut up, after calling them names.Go make your life better, GOV., and quite yellin at the rest of us.
Christie is addicted to eating and talking to much. He will do a lot better, if he keeps his mouth shut. It will do him good and perhaps live longer and healtheir life. Being angry and fat is not good for him.
I would rather be represented by an old, fit politician than a younger, bloated blowhard with not enough common sense or willpower or self-love to stop eating like a pig. He definitely needs to exercise the toxins from his body; their making him act republican.
Although I'm a Democrat, I'm disappointed that CC didn't instead respond by saying "you know I'm not in good shape to compete but I will be".
I don't have any problem with the guy's overweight. It represents a good taste for good' ol American food and it should be taken as a great investment on the part of the governor...
What really bothers me is the way he lets out the bully in him. He throws his 350 lbs behind on his public discourse, he needs to be careful, one of these days any reporter worth the mud of his or hers news-pursuing-shoes will put him in his wide place by answering him back in the same loud way of his....
I just hope that a medical professional tells Christie that he needs to get out of politics until his weight and other medical problems get under control. That might not happen at all which would keep him out politics for at least a decade.
I'd hedge on the chin-up contest. Christie gets three points every time he clears the bar.
Seriously, he's got more Chins than the San Francisco phone directory.
The only thing Christie can win would be a hotdog eating contest.
Jerry Brown has always been a man of principles. He is old, but still profound. He remains in shape mentally and physically.
Does Gov. Christie look a little bit like Rush? Sound a little bit like Rush? Push, push, push to be heard, to be elected... to hell with the principles.