THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Chris Christie formally ruled out a bid for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination on Tuesday, disappointing legions of admirers and putting an end to speculation that he would make a dramatic late entrance to the wide-open race.
The fact that the New Jersey governor had to call a press conference, which was televised live by cable news channels, to make his announcement underlined how anxious many Republicans were for him to join the fray.
Speculation had reached fever pitch as Mr Christie spent two weeks reconsidering his original decision not to stand after being inundated with pleas from what he described as "some very serious people" and ordinary voters.
"I've explored the options and listened to so many people and considered whether this was something that I needed to take on," he said.
"But in the end, what I always felt was the right decision remains the right decision today – now is not my time. I'm doing a job that I love in the state I grew up in," said Mr Christie, 49, who has been in office for less than two years.
Known for his easy-going style, solid conservatism and candour about a range of subjects including his substantial girth, Mr Christie had delighted audiences with his blunt criticism of President Barack Obama's leadership failings.
While not impossible, it would have been difficult for him to raise money, enlist activists and build a nationwide team in time for the start of the nominating process, which is to kick off in early January with the Iowa caucuses followed shortly by the New Hampshire primary. » | Alex Spillius | Tuesday, October 04, 2011
