Christie's press conference comes after weeks of buzz surrounding a possible presidential run
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie is holding a press conference today to announce he is not running for president. Watch the video, or follow live coverage here.
1:04: Not my time
“Over the last few weeks I’ve thought long and hard about this decision,” Christie said. “Now is not my time.”
“This is not the time to leave unfinished business.”
1:02: Christie begins
Christie starts on time, saying his language has been clear and direct on this issue in the past.
“I’m doing a job that I love in the state I grew up in," Christie said. "It wasn’t until recently that I paused to really reflect on my decision."
12:35: Press let into office
The governor's staff is starting to let members of the press into the outer office.
12:18: Line out the door
There is a line of press and cameras stretching from the governor's office to the front door of the Statehouse. There are several news trucks parked outside the Statehouse.
11:23: Visitors hear the news
Maynard Magee and Nancy Holmes just wrapped up a tour of the Statehouse as news trucks began rolling up for Christie's news conference.
"We thought something was up," said Holmes, of Livingston, Texas, who's on an RV tour of the country. "He seemed like he would have been a good candidate."
Holmes, a self-described independent voter, said she was unhappy with the current field if presidential candidates.
"He might have worked," Holmes said. "But it could be I just don't know enough about him and once I get to know him, that might change my mind."
Gov. Chris Christie holds a 1 p.m. press conference today. Magee, who's from California but has been traveling for 20 years, said he was happy the buzz was done.
"Did I like him? Well ... No."
But after touring the Statehouse and grabbing a few souvenirs, he lamented the news, if only jokingly.
"How could he not run? I got pencils with his name on them. How are we going to sell these on eBay now?"
- Christopher Baxter
Firestorm of speculation
Gov. Chris Christie is expected to announce that he won't run for president at a Statehouse press conference set for 1 p.m., according to a source close the governor. A phalanx of local and national media have crowded into the Statehouse, forming a line dozens deep outside the doors to the governor's office while Christie prepares to deliver remarks.
The first-term Republican governor set off a firestorm of speculation in the national media and in the highest tier of American politics when news broke last week that he was seriously considering a White House bid after more than a year of ruling it out. Top Republicans said Christie would be an ideal challenger to President Obama, but they also expressed concerns that Christie would not have been able to mount a successful campaign in time to win his party's nomination, and that his moderate views on gun control, same-sex unions, immigration and climate change would alienate the most conservative voters.
The governor kept a low profile over the last week, declining to take questions about his plans, while he conferred with his family and advisers about a possible bid.
- Salvador Rizzo
More coverage:
• Hints to Chris Christie's future may lie in Woodrow Wilson's past
• Chris Christie's record comes under scrutiny from Washington pols and pundits
• As Chris Christie considers presidential run, past contests provide clues into governor's thinking
• Christie's window of opportunity is getting smaller, experts say
• Gov. Christie slams Obama, talks foreign policy during Reagan Library speech
• Gov. Chris Christie to donors: I'm not running for president
• Gov. Christie won't enter presidential race, his brother insists