Chris Christie will forgo presidential run

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Updated 11:14 p.m. Eastern Time

Ending a weeks-long flirtation that would have dramatically reshaped the race, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will announce Tuesday that he will not seek the Republican presidential nomination, CBS News has learned.

Christie has scheduled a press conference at 1 p.m. ET at the New Jersey statehouse in Trenton.

Christie spent much of the past year insisting that he wouldn't run, offering colorful denials like "What do I have to do short of suicide to convince people I'm not running?" But he continued to keep one toe in the water, meeting with donors and making speeches on such topics as "Real American Exceptionalism" at the Ronald Reagan Library in California.

Pressure on Christie to enter the race was ratcheted up in recent weeks thanks to the efforts of billionaire venture capitalist and Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, the leader of a group of Wall Street players who have been aggressively courting Christie. Disillusioned with President Obama and underwhelmed by the current crop of candidates, Langone and his allies (among them hedge fund magnate Paul Singer and industrialist David Koch) saw Christie as the the party's best hope to unseat the president next year.

Christie and his allies made clear over the past two weeks that despite his earlier denials, he was seriously considering a run - something that would have had major ramifications for the GOP race. Christie's brash style has made conservatives around the country swoon, and he has shown an ability to take on unions and fight for budget cuts while remaining relatively popular, unlike many other Republican governors.

Yet there were serious obstacles to a Christie run. The first was the fact that his position issues like climate change (he called it "real"), immigration, gun control and the notion of "creeping Sharia law" (Christie deemed such concerns "crazy" "crap") put him at odds with much of the Republican base. That would have posed particular problems for Christie in a pair of early states -- Iowa and South Carolina. 

Timing may have proved to be more important. Christie would have gotten into the race less than three months before voters are expected to begin going to the polls. (The primary calendar remains in flux, but voting looks likely to kick off in early January.) He would have needed to develop a ground game in key early states, develop a platform and establish his fundraising network in an extremely short period of time, all while preparing for regular debates against his opponents and making himself better known to the American people.

And that would have been harder than you might think: Despite the deafening buzz around Christie in political circles in recent weeks, a CBS News survey out Tuesday morning found that 70 percent of voters - including 63 percent of Republican primary voters - didn't yet have an opinion about him. Asked if they would like to see Christie join the field, Republican primary voters offered a mixed response: 32 percent said yes, 38 percent said no and 30 percent said they didn't know.

Christie's decision not to run appears to be particularly good news for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, with whom he would have competed for the votes of moderate Republicans. Recent polls suggest Romney, who is viewed skeptically by many in the Republican base, remains the frontrunner for the nomination, though he has faced challenges from Rick Perry and, most recently, Herman Cain. Polls suggest that Michele Bachmann, who once appeared to be among the frontrunners, has faded to the back of the back.

Christie is the third high-profile Republican to forgo the race, following in the footsteps of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels -- who holds similar positions -- and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. His decision to exit the race leaves only Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani as the high-profile Republicans still considering a run.  

[focusonjobs1]

The media created this story and he used it to get campaign contributions.

[Progress4USA]

Transcript of conversation between Jim Cox (Christie's Political Adviser) and Gov Chris Christie:

Jim Cox: Governor, one of the traditional presidential campaign events that you'll be participating in are what we call "Pancake Breakfasts"...this is an opportunity for you to meet folks and give them a couple of pancakes as a token of your thanks for their support."

Gov Christie: A "pancake breakfast." What...? These people show up...pass by me...I say "hello" and hand THEM a pancake. I don't get it...? I GIVE THEM...a pancake? That doesn't make any sense Jim...they should be giving ME a pancake.

Jim Cox: No Governor...you give them a pancake. It's your token of appreciation.

Gov Christie: I can't take a bite out of the pancake and then give it to them?

Jim Cox: No Governor...that against health regulations. Just give them the pancake and say "Thanks for your support."

Gov Christie: No Jim...that's just crazy. I'm not standing there handing out pancakes and getting nothing bake! Call a press conference...I'm not running!!!"

[Forty-Four]

by sharong59 October 4, 2011 1:14 PM EDT
44 It's not his look, it's his health! In 2008, a lot of people were turned off on McCain because of his age and that he had already had bouts of skin cancer. They were afraid, he would drop dead in office and leave us with v.p. Palin!!! (oh horror the thought) Governor Christie is a very likeable guy, seems to have some good ideas but his obesity is an issure because it causes heart attacks, strokes etc. and even tho he's not that old, heart attacks don't go by age! Then who would we be left with!?
______________________________________________
No, if that was your decision that is your business, but a person's physical health has nothing to do with their ability to lead. That should NEVER be a deciding factor in who is the best fit for the job.

[tom7904]

I just lost respect for Chris Christie. This may be his last chance to do something for his country. This country will not survive four more years of the same. He must not understand the state of this country and it's good he is not getting into the race. You can't save New Jersey if the whole country goes down the drain. He is an idiot.

[Forty-Four]

Right now, he has a commitment to his state of New Jersey, and if he abandons that, then he is no better than other politicians who are abandoning their post for another position. I applaud his decision.

[DJFrey]

http://napoleonlive.info/politics/chris-christie-don't-bet-on-it/

[baileyccc]

Finally a republican with a brain. The members of gop in the bid for the nomination to face president Obama does not stand a chance. They will be associated with the dead tea party movement and the no negotiate congress members. There will be a major house cleaning of the dead gop party in November, 2012.

[Birdman04]

No need for a press conference. He already said he was not running because he was not ready nor experienced enough. Most of us took him at his word a long time ago that what he said was true. This is just a waste of time.

[alex8701]

Why are all the networks broadcasting this as "breaking news"? To be honest, I think in some cases they interrupted stuff that was more newsworthy. I mean, what possible reason is there that we need to know about this the second it happens?

[vet97]

As much as I dislike Christie I don't want to read these remarks about his weight/appearance. There's no room for that type of discourse in this election and it only makes those that use such remarks look like a bunch of losers! Let's leave the labeling, name calling and personal attacks to the other side...it fits them well! Attack him for his politics and policies which should be more than enough to keep us busy!

[Lifeson2112]

I don't like Christie's liberal tendencies myself, but the hate toward him just for his weight is going too far. These are the same posters who would condemn someone on a story about bullying.

[FirstReviewer]

If you would my good man reconsider and run.

I know that it may be a little late in the day, but I believe you could win if things fell in place for you.

The more we have in the Mix the better.

Again Reconsider and throw Your Hat in the Ring.

Have a Great Day.