Christie "fine and in charge" from hospital

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during his Reform Agenda Town Hall at the National Guard Armory, Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in Toms River, N.J. / AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Updated 1:30 p.m. ET

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Blunt-talking Gov. Chris Christie, who some Republicans have been trying to persuade to run for president, was taken to a hospital Thursday after he had difficulty breathing.

The 48-year-old governor was driven to Somerset Medical Center by his state police security detail out of an "abundance of caution," said Christie spokesman, Michael Drewniak. Christie suffers from asthma and all indications are the governor will be OK, Drewniak said.

Maria Comella, Christie's deputy chief of staff, told The Associated Press that Christie is "fine and in charge." Close friend and adviser Bill Palatucci said Christie was "getting tests and working from the hospital."

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was in her office at the Statehouse. Christie canceled his monthly "Ask the Governor" radio show, which was scheduled for Thursday night.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor who took office 18 months ago, has drawn praise from fiscal conservatives and complaints from unions for efforts to trim benefits for public employees as part of steep budget cuts. His national profile also has risen, in part, for his frank and sometimes confrontational exchanges with the media.

The governor attended an education conference and a congressional fundraiser in Iowa on Monday, where he again told reporters he was not running for president. He has said that his four school-age children and further goals in his first term rule out a White House bid, but Republicans continue to court him.

The governor has long struggled with his weight, which he said he started putting on after high school when he stopped playing organized sports.

He's tried dozens of diets over the years with varying success and has shed some pounds in recent months.

His weight came up during his 2009 campaign against Democrat incumbent Jon Corzine, who ran an ad accusing Christie of "throwing his weight around" to get out of traffic citations while he was U.S. attorney. Christie confronted the ads head on, telling Corzine to "man up and say I'm fat."

Christie was named the state's top federal law enforcement officer after playing an important role in President George W. Bush's 2000 campaign in the state.

He soon gained national exposure by overseeing two major terrorism convictions and the convictions of dozens of public officials on corruption charges.

In 2007, Corzine was seriously injured in a car accident on the Garden State Parkway. Corzine's femur bone was broken in two places and he sustained a broken sternum, six broken ribs on each side, a head laceration and a minor fracture on a lower vertebrae.

[esq777]

Guess this slob is glad he has his government health care, so he can keep on stuffing his fat face and then stick the taxpayer with the tab. Funny, isn't a Republican supposed to accept "personal responsiblity" and put his fork down once in awhile. Of course ridiculous hypocrisy is what the GOP is all about. This pig should stop worrying about running for president and start worrying about to prevent the bust out heart attack that comes from being morbidly obese.

[nearl451]

The guy really needs to start taking care of himself.

[unclebernies]

Gee do you think if Christie lost 100 pounds he may stop having breathing issues. Christie is so heavy when he gets on a scale it says one at a time please.

[noloyalisti]

This article makes it sound like Christie was ever in charge of anything. This arrogant jerk could not handle his own giant butt with both hands. Everyone can tell a billionaire pawn when they see one.

[starving1968-3]

This is also the guy that wants to gut (pun intended) the school fitness and gym classes from the budgets of the state's school budgets.

How appropriate that his "physical unfitness" is doing HIM IN, before he can foist his changes onto the school kids, before they become morbidly obese like the governor is!

[credibility2]

The governor should get some assistance with his weight problem, just like the Surgeon General who is also on the rotund side. The First Lady ain't that thin, either. I note that when the careless Corzine was seriously injured in a car accident where he wasn't wearing a seat belt, Christie didn't ridicule him for his stupidity. That's the difference between a Repub and a Dem.

[user000049586849302948603]

Doctors: "Try eating a salad once in a while, you disgusting fatbody."

[noloyalisti]

Are there really people out there who think a overstuffed Corporate puppet should be allowed the circumvent the Constitution (taking money from the poor, workers, middle class and elderly to give to the rich)? That is why when all is done and said, there is not one wacko Republicon who stands a chance in the long run. Especially this arrogant waste of air (and lots of food).

[DenverBroncofan]

by cbskilledmyid July 28, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
Hey, how come you guys are not saying anything about the 'Fast And Furious' Weapons Scandal?

Or is it too much for you to handle.

============================================================

I have seen your posts and I just can't dumb myself that far down

[canislupus16]

I haven't seen DenverBroncoFan's (go Giants!) or cbskilledmyid's posts before so I have no prior opinion of either. But based on cbskilledmyid's reply ("How lame, I bet you have a small ***** ")
to Denver, I'm agreeing with Denver.

[noloyalisti]

Christie is OK? What's the good news then?

This arrogant fool has been completely bought and paid for by his billionaire Tea Bagger sponsors. What a waste of good air (and cheeseburgers and hot dogs, fries, ice cream, soda, cake, pork rinds, etc.).