It's Final, Christie Won't Seek GOP Nomination

Saying that "now is not my time," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

Standing behind a lecturn in the Statehouse in Trenton, Christie said he believed he owed it to the people of New Jersey to continue as governor. "It's never felt right... to me in my gut to leave here when the job is not finished," he said. "New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."

Here in Hasbrouck Heights many say there were relieved to hear the news. Marissa Gamble, who works at said the TV was on and she joined customers as they all watched the conference on the news. She said the general reaction among everyone was relief as they didn’t think it was his time to run.

Down at the Farmer’s Market, John Abramo of Johnny’s Cookies said he didn’t think much of the governor until he saw how he addressed the evacuation efforts around the state before Hurricane Irene. “He did a marvelous job with the evacuation and I’m glad he’s staying in New Jersey,” Abramo said.

Mayor Rose Heck said she was relieved to hear the governor’s news today. “ I felt in my heart he would not break his word to us. He still has to fix New Jersey. He has always said he wants to make sure this is a place where he wants his children and grandchildren to live. I am counting on him to continue to make things better in New Jersey that is why I volunteered to be Co-Chair of his Bergen County Campaign in the first place two years ago. I am proud of him for being a man of his word and will continue to work with him to help New Jersey be the best it can be. Thanks Governor!”

Patch caught up with Dave Gonzalez, councilman in the borough, who said he just happened to be talking about the possibility of Christie running for President with his father the other day. He had told him, “[Christie] is like the back up quarterback. Everyone likes him until he comes in and throws an interception.”

Gonzalez said people like Christie because he is the fresh face and many are not thrilled with some of the GOP candidates running however no one really knows what Christie’s thoughts are on things like foreign policy or about fixing the economy of the whole country. He may be doing what he needs to for New Jersey but that may not necessarily be what is needed for other areas of the country like California.

Bergen County Freeholder Chairman John Driscoll Jr. heard the news Monday night at a fund-raiser. With the decision not to run behind him, Driscoll said the governor could continue concentrating on his home state.

"I think the focus whether it was last week, last month or today has been to get New Jersey moving forward," he said.

But Christie did not rule out a run for the presidency in the future, telling an NBC News reporter that "I'm not going to preclude any job whether president or working at NBC."

The governor had repeatedly said he would not join the GOP campaign, but reports continued to surface in recent weeks that he was re-considering, under pressure from numerous Republican leaders unhappy with the current list of candidates.

Christie said his wife and four children had been supportive in a possible campaign. "Mary Pat woke me up a few days ago at 6 o'clock in the morning and told me, 'If you want to go for it, go for it,'" he said.

He said other candidates did not make a presidential run sound appealing, saying that those who had lost described the experience as "a nightmare," while those who won agreed that it was "awful."

The governor didn't resist an opportunity to take a swipe at President Obama, saying the president had "failed the leadership test." But he said it was too early for him to make any endorsement of any of the current GOP contenders.

Christie said he had been amused by the attention he had received, including from comedians who made jokes about his weight. "It's fair game, they can make fun of it," Christie said, "provided it's funny." He said his son Andrew had even taken to showing him video clips of items he'd missed. "So he's been grounded," Christie quipped.

The governor indicated he would not be interested in the GOP nomination for vice president, saying he did not see himself as a "Number Two kind of guy."

The pressure has intensified in recent days for the governor to make a decision after both Florida and South Carolina moved up the dates for their party primary to January, leaving only three months of campaigning before the actual selection of delegates begins.

Christie's announcement comes the same day as a new poll shows him in fourth place nationally in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination, behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, business executive Herman Cain and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

New Jersey Demcrats were quick to respond to the governor's announcement. "The governor clearly understood that he cannot run for president when his own house isn't in order," Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said. "Unemployment is at 9.4%—higher than the national average. Property taxes have increased since he took office. He has a budget deficit of almost $8 billion... Not the best record on which to base a presidential campaign."

Added New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), “Thankfully, we can now move ahead and focus on the real issues that are impacting the people of this state. Unemployment here is above the national average, while more people, particularly children, are living in poverty."

Local Republican leaders made it clear that they were hoping for a different decision. “I am disappointed but I respect Governor Christie’s decision to decline to seek the presidency at this time," U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (11th District-N.J.) said. "Anyone who has ever worked with the governor understands his strong leadership for New Jersey would have been good for America."

Alana Quartuccio contributed to this article.