Christie: 'Now is not my time'
(CNN) - Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey announced Tuesday he will not run for president in 2012.
The first-term governor said the pressure he received over the past few months caused him to consider throwing his hat in the ring - after repeatedly shooting down rumors - but that ultimately he is committed to his position in the Garden State.
"Now is not my time. I have a commitment to New Jersey that I simply will not abandon," Christie said at a press conference in Trenton. "That's the promise I made to the people of this state when I took office."
Christie fielded recent calls to run for president and spent time discussing the possibility of a White House bid with his family, friends and operatives. Now, having decided against a bid, Christie said he does not "feel any sense of regret at all."
"I felt like it was my obligation as I said before given the seriousness and the amount of people who were coming to me and asking me to reconsider to reconsider and I did," Christie said. "In the end I came back to the same place I was in the whole year."
He pushed back against reports that his family was skeptical throughout the process, saying they supported him, whether he decided to run for president or not.
When asked about the rest of the GOP presidential field, Christie said his decision was not affected by the strength or weakness of the pool.
"None of them were a factor," he said before adding that he was not prepared to make an endorsement.
He also brushed aside suggestions, in his typically brash fashion that he would serve in the No. 2 spot on the Republican ticket.
“Listen, I don’t imagine I’m going to be asked. I don’t think I have the personality to be asked,” Christie said. “I mean, seriously, can you imagine? You know, the guy would probably want to get a food taster. I don’t know, seriously, I don’t see it.”
The newly minted vice chair of the Republican Governors Association said he is now focused on making sure President Barack Obama only serves one term as president.
"He's failed the American people because he's failed that absolute litmus test to be President of the United States and that's to know how to lead and how to decide," Christie said.
Christie light heartedly addressed the coverage of his weight that escalated in recent weeks, particularly among comedians. As long as the jokes are funny, he is OK with the coverage, he said.
"For me, their job is to be funny. And if one of the things they want to make fun of is my weight, it's fair game," Christie said. "I'm a public figure … All I care about is that they actually are funny so that I can at least laugh about it while they are mocking me."
Christie knows what time it is...unlike Perry, who thought he was going to have a field day, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...
It will be interesting to see who Republicans nominate, they are stuck between a bad choice, very bad choice and terrible choice....you fill in the appropriate names in those choices, HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAH....
Mob ties would make it very difficult to run. This guy has way too many skeletons lurking in the closet and he's smart enough to know it.
He will make an announcement at the same time as the Apple iPhone press conference?
I'll bet even his own cameramen will put the whole thing on autopilot as they go check out the Apple stream...
Great. Now we have to choose between a theocrat loon and an inept Marxist community organizer.
Christie has a few fences to mend, and skeletons in the closet before he can seriously venture into national politics.
When you take him away from the other GOP presidential contenders, he does not really look so attractive as a candidate.
The offering is so thrid rate, that he superficially appeared to be a knight in white armour. But on his own, his obesity and allied health problems, his penchant for telling lies, and his bullying nature are not particularly attractive.
This was your only chance big heavy. NJ and everyone else will be sick of your character in another four years.
LOL. I guess CNN's version of "breaking news" is when something today is the same as it was yesterday.
Mabel Schwartz isn't running either.
The infatuation with Cristie would evaporate faster than with Perry. If he jumps in, his rivals will trot out the footage of him walking arm in arm with Obama and hit him on his moderate stance on social issues. Cardinal sins in today's GOtP. Too bad, he's about the only Republican out there now that I would seriously consider voting for, but he's not pure enough for the base. I would also worry about his stamina. As someone his age with weight issues, I couldn't handle the grueling pace, and he probably realizes he couldn't either.
Mr. Chistie, please run for POTUS and stop hanging round the back door like a beggar or Sarah Palin looking for crumbs. Barack will be happy to send you, Sarah and Michelle Bachman back to the neverlands of politics all in the same election. Oh, by the way, tell Hank Williams to shut up......
its okay Jersey needs him
So where's Palin, I thought she said she would announce in late September? (of course she didn't say what year)
David Letterman will be crushed.
Lovely camera angle, Chris. I am going to make an announcement at 12:59 that I am not running for president, as well, just to beat him out.
It seems Christie has been very consistent with saying he wont run. The media seems to think otherwise. Manufacture news much?
The GOP is desperate for someone other than a sitcom character.
Christie has been in office for 20 months and New Jersey still has higher unemployment numbers than the national average. How could you realistically bash Obama's overall performance economically when your own performance isn't any better?
He is scheduled to speak at 1:00... He can't miss lunch even if it's to announce that he is way to inexperienced to be president.
He has said no three hundred times! The only people who have ever said he was reconsidering were unnamed close sources or other public figures with very little sway when it came to his actual decision (whereas his own brother saying no was dismissed). This hasn't been a story for at least A MONTH now. Or pretty much ever. No wonder why everybody hates and doesn't trust the entire media. This whole Christie extravaganza by everyone in the media has been one big fat lie.Was it to get ratings? To hurt other GOP candidates? Just a slow news week? What is the purpose? Whatever it is, it is absurd.
Songwriters: Jill Scott, Scott Storch
Governor Christ has an Epiphany moment...according to Jill Scott...no...no...no...no...
Watchin', watchin' as he took the holder off his shoulder
Fire in his eyes, hands gettin' bolder...etc...
to BRAD – yes this is a manufactured story... He never intended to run...
Awwww....bummer. Guess there's still an open seat in the clown car.
I can smell the desperation from the republican party, and its not pretty. Who will be the next shiny object? Christie would have never made it out of the primaries – the gop is in love with the idea of a savior, problem is, no one will come close to fitting their rigid ideological bill.
Dag! ...now he stays here!! ....and don't get me wrong, I want to like the guy because I think he's got chutzpah....BUT he leaves you feeling like he can't be trusted–yes, trust in politics is possible, I believe. Reagan never made us feel that way–whether you liked Reagan or not–he was a motivator, spoke and acted from the heart, and didn't throw his weight around–no punn intended–but Christie governs by intimidation and arrogance, which includes his size....no disrespect intended!!
Good for Christie. Not a fan, but that office is reserved for someone who has no doubts that it is the best decision for him. I guess he is either looking at another day or not at all...or maybe he just didn't want to be dragged into that "goat rope" headed up by that cowboy and the business man, also starring "Herb the Pizza Man", the guy who wants to change all references to him on the internet, the Dr who'll let you expire for foolish insurance decisions, that Dominionist lady, and that former house speaker guy who thinks he's better than EVERYBODY and I mean EVERYBODY. Ooops, and Huntsman.
And an unrelated story, CNN and the media have discovered that the sun is actually hot! CNN advise not to get to close to it as temperatures might exceed those experienced in your day to day activities....