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."
Not smart to compete with Apple for airtime 🙂
People are looking desperately to find anyone besides Obama!
Don't let experience stop you....Bachmann is running....
This is the disadvantage of new tech. Everyone and each individual nowadays is a journalist. Christie knows that he is not totally clean. There were a lot who were already dug deeper down and waiting him to announce that he is running, so they come up with all kind of dirties!
Ron Paul is the man in 2012! Peace and Prosperity, not War and Poverty. Go to Youtube, search Ron Paul predictions hear his message and know this is the only choice.
I'm shocked!
He realized the clown car is already full to capacity.
He should not run now. Should Obama fool his fool his followers again and get reelected Christie can run in 2016. Did you notice how Palin has become a non story.
now all we have to do is wait for the intellectual giant Palin to announce her intention............... weather to run, or have another ghost written book released.
They all know that President Obama is unbeatable in 2012.
===============================================
What color is the sky on your planet???
Yes, and the Democrats retained control of the House in 2010. Egads, some of you are drinking WAY too much kool-aide!!
----------------------------------–
As I've stated before, the republicans took control in 2010 because democrats did not get out and VOTE. So much is at stake for the middle class, the poor and the elderly. You can bet democrats will get out the vote for 2012. We don't want america to be in the hands of religous fanatics and fascists. The GOP will not be able to pull in independent votes with the crop of right wing extremist running now.
He knows that he would not be a better President than our current President. Very smart to stay out of it. The real problem the and GOP insurgency in the House and Senate who will stop at nothing to make things worse and keep things from improving for....VOTES. The woll may be over the eyes of some people but not mine. I will hold each GOPer accountable in the next few elections until there is someone who has the maturity to compromise and not put people second to special interests or the rich.
BTW – what has the GOp done so far to create jobs? Nothing. Seems like those tax breaks are really working.
YES! Another candidate to further dilute the vote. Christie will now become the new Perry and Romney the new Bachmann. Ron Paul will win the nomination
-------------------–
Ron who? The old dude who wants to legalize drugs and let folks die if they have no health insurance? That Ron Paul? LOL!
Face it Republicans. Romney has it wrapped up.
SURPRISE! Like he hasn't been saying this for 6 months????????
And this is news because???? We already know – we've known it for quite a while.
Dear members of the press:
Is this really a head line??? The man has been clearly stating for months he is NOT interested in running for President .!!What lese can he say for you to get the message: WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?? Time to move on PLEASE!!!
Good thing he's not running. No one could possibly be as outstanding a president than the one we have now! Look how happy the country is, how low the employment numbers are, how many jobs have been created, and how many tax breaks have been given to small business! Yes, we have one mighty fine leader!
Why is it only the crazy Republicans that are running? If Obama is going to be so easy to beat, why are no legitimate opponents stepping forward to take him on?
So, the main frontrunners appear to be Romney and Perry.
republicans, this does not bode well for you. I would like to see Obama ousted but your candidates are not so good.
Maybe we can still get Sarah oor Jeb. or even Bobby Jindal. Somebody. How about Rick Scott or Scott Walker or Jan Brewer. Please don't leave us with this pack of fools to pick from!!!!!!!!!
Christie, while not a favorite of mine, is clearly too rational to compete with the clown car occupants currently pretending to be qualified GOP candidates for the presidency.
Getting a kick out of the jibes in his speech at Palin, re: doing the job you were hired for instead of bailing.
Sad day in America and this just might spell our doom. If Obama gets a second term this county is over, and countless millions will suffer.
You know, I gotta respect a guy – even a republican – who says he is not going to run for POTUS, and then does exactly what he said he would do. Not enough of this in either party.
If you listen to Christie's speeches, you know he NEVER said or hinted that he'd consider a run. Pretty much weekly he said he will not be running for President. Somehow CNN and other news outlets have had a hard on for him to run, and they keep saying that he is still considering it. He has been 100% clear each time that he is not running, yet somehow poor reporting always twists it so they can milk another story out of it. Pathetic.