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."
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@ Lynda/Minnesota, please already, there is nothing and I repeat nothing that President Obama needs to be afraid of from this group of morons! You could put this group in a room and there would be no brain activity among them at all. I assume you are from Minnesota so I am going to ask this question to you! Michelle Bachmann, really? that is really all Minnesota has? That is embarrassing!
Smart move on his part - the next president will also be a 1 term wonder – as noone – no party – will be able to fix America in 4 years and in this day and age – we all want it done yesterday. Hope we see him again in 2016...
How many times is this man gonna tell us he's NOT RUNNING? This news is about 6 months old.
...Myself and my family have decided that any campaign for the Presidency of the United States would, at this time, conflict with my "Biggest Loser" production committments which, we feel, must take the highest priority in our family...
@vf6cruiser By the looks on the faces of the musicians arouind him, Clinton could NOT play the sax. My ears told me that too. 😉
Yes, he did own a sax and blow into it to make some notes and sounds, and Obama does not do that. Ron Paul 2012, no he will not play the sax or have affairs.
Without Christie we can all lighten up. We can now weigh in on some real candidates. We can focus on pounding Obama in 2012.
As a resident of New Jersey, I am appalled that anyone would consider Christie as a viable candidate for POTUS.
A know nothing, loud mouth, insolent, fat and very rotund, individual who is abrasive and cares for no-one but himself and his cronies. It would be the best move for the Republicans so that the Democratic candidate can wipe him on the ground.
How many times does Governor Christie have to say that he is not running for the Republican nomination for President before CNN will stop running stories about whether he will run? If CNN stopped talking about Gov Christie, they would have to talk about the actual Republican candidates and that would really hurt their favorite candidate, President Obama.
I am not a fan of Christie. He is this bully with no manners. A real lousy person. No personality. No compassion either. But, having said that, he would have been the most reasonable GOP candidate. He is a fiscal conservative (and that's not a bad thing–if you're reasonable) and a social moderate. On both counts the extremists in the party would have crucified him. He would have tried to work with Democrats. That is unacceptable in the new GOP. He would have been run out of town by the Tea Party. Not extremist enough.
I was not part of the conversation above but just wanted to say that it is a good thing he will not run because we have no use for a guy who acts like he is in your best interest but really is a mob connected good ol' boy.He is only out to help that 1% at the top of the heap figure out how to divide your paycheck into larger and larger amounts amongst themselves.Listen to the above comment about keeping the economy where they want it.This has been going on in the U.S. and U.K. in our society for close to 700 years behind closed doors.Look up the name Tino Fuimara too know more about this guy.
Wow, what a surprise, he's saying the same thing he's been saying for the last 6 months.
Guess the desperate gop will have to find a new flavor-of-the-month.
If you gamble, take the over-under on this guy having a heart attack or some major bypass surgery very soon. Jeez, what a fat pig – LOSE some weight. I have $20 bucks that says he'd eat his kids if you put Hooter's sauce on them. If you are around him and you can't find something, chances are he inhaled it. Am I being too mean, oh, poor baby – or more like baby whale. Is he the fattest gov. ever?
It's not over until the "Fat Lady Sings"...sorry about that, I know its a cheap shot.
Why is this still a story? Keep on reporting this nonsense. It isn't like there is a story going completely unreported here regarding Attorney General Eric Holder perjuring himself in front of Congress or that the DOJ and White House are yelling at CBS for trying to ask questions. No story there.
Actually Christie heard they were closing the free buffet at the WH.
Gov Christie declares he isn't running for president!!
Umm, didn't he declare that quite a while ago?
Is CNN stuck in a time warp, or is it just a slow news day now that that girl in Italy was acquitted of murder (like we cared about that)?
Is this the best you can do CNN??
Oh Sarah – Sarah – where for are thou Sarah???!!!!! I'm cashing in on the speaking engagements and busy blowing smoke up peoples tailpipes.
Get over it Liberal and Rinos... Sarah Palin is the conservative Star Quarter back on issues and values. Obama is not even close to her record of success! Be forewarned Democrats, Sarah Palin will be your best friend in the White House. All the others will be under enormous pressure to "ignore you" after Obumbles loses.
(( Sarah Palin ))
"...brings a record of accomplishments – Achieved AAA Credit Rating for Alaska, Reduced burgeoning state liabilities by 34.6% for 3 fiscal years, Reduced State spending by 9.5%, slashed earmark requests, Exposed and Removed corruption with State Officials and collusion with Big Oil..."
3 Fiscal Years as Governor
6 Fiscal years as Mayor
4 years City Council
1 year Chairman Oil&Gas Commission
18 years Small business owner
Chris Christie' or Obumbles, record IS NO MATCH to Sarah Palin' 14 year career in public office and 18 year career in Private Business experience.
Throw on top of all that and SHE CAN RUN AN 8 MINUTE MILE 13 TIMES IN A ROW! Sarah "draws the crowds" to hear her message, which is "our message".
Sarah and McCain, were our ticket in 2008, and garnered 60,000,000 VOTES for our Party. McCain would have been blown away without Governor Sarah Palin. All of us know it.
Immediately after her resignation, due to endless Democrat nuisance lawsuits, she embarked on a campaign of getting Fiscal Conservatives (Tea Party) Candidates elected in the 2010 Midterms, using SarahPAC cash and her personal endorsements, of which 67% won.
Sarah Palin IS HUGELY RESPONSIBLE, for the power exerted during the Debt Ceiling Debate, with those victories she helped secure which BEAT DEMOCRATS. Who else in the Party had more "demonstrable influence"? No one.
Give credit where credit is due. Sarah ROCKED !
I could see a debate between Christie & President Obama...It would be like Mike "The Situation" against Dr Frasier Crane.
Christie is not running because he would make the oval office look too small. AND, everyone remember what happened to Taft (bathtub)? Fatty.
Stop eating my sandwich, Christie. Fatty.
Desperate people taking desperate measures. What a class act. Even though practically everyone wants him to jump in he is brave enough to admit he doesn't know enough to run for the presidency. Unlike the other Repukes that fall over each other telling why one is more worthless than the other. I swear if a Repuke gets in the White House then the people of this country deserve the wrath that will be fall them. They are not for the people they are against the people.
He hasnt ruled out those late night runs to taco bell.
Well I guess the RePUKElicans will just have to go with the trashy vomit already in the race, thus assuring 4 more years for Obama. I wounder if he gets a conciliatory hand job from Sarah?
He knows very well that the economy will likely suffer a decline in 2012 and will not recover sufficiently in four year to be noticeable to the average American, i.e, unemployment will not go below 9%. Housing prices are not predicted to recover until 2020. Whoever wins in 2012 will soon be seen as having feet of clay and have their future political ambitions and reputation dashed. Even more so than in the past, running for president is insane.