TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he never tried to discourage Olympic champion Carl Lewis out of running for a state Senate seat. But Christie says Lewis may be "too sensitive" to run. Lewis says Christie threatened to cut an athletic program Lewis had wanted to start if Lewis ran against incumbent Republican Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego....
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Governor Christie at a press conference earlier this month in Trenton. Olympian Carl Lewis says Christie discouraged him from running for state Senate, but the governor denied those accusations.TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he never tried to discourage Olympic champion Carl Lewis out of running for a state Senate seat.
But Christie says Lewis may be "too sensitive" to run.
Lewis says Christie threatened to cut an athletic program Lewis had wanted to start if Lewis ran against incumbent Republican Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego.
During an interview on New York radio station Monday, Christie said he told Lewis that he couldn't move forward on the program if the Democrat ran against Christie's longtime friend.
Christie says he also made it clear he would campaign hard against Lewis if he did run.
The governor called Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's decision to keep Lewis off the ballot "a solid choice."
Lewis has appealed the decision in federal court.
Previous Coverage:
• U.S. District Court judge to decide whether Carl Lewis can run for N.J. Senate
• Carl Lewis dealt another blow in N.J. Senate run after state Supreme Court declines to hear appeal
• U.S. appeals court orders that Carl Lewis be placed on N.J. Senate primary ballot
• Federal court to rule on Carl Lewis bid for Senate seat, request to delay printing of ballots
• Carl Lewis turns to federal appeals court in quest to run for N.J. state Senate
• N.J. appeals court agrees Olympic medalist Carl Lewis cannot run for Senate
• Lt. Gov. Guadagno rules Carl Lewis doesn't meet residency requirement to run for N.J. Senate
