Christie Says No to 2012 Run but Offers Critique of Gov. Perry's Immigration Stance

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the Perspectives on
Leadership Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi
Valley, Calif.

SIMI VALLEY, California - Shooting down incessant
rumors, speculation and open calls from fellow Republicans for his
candidacy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he will not make a
presidential run in 2012.

Tuesday night in Calif., Christie
called the repeated requests for a presidential run a great honor and
said he was flattered by the attention but has nonetheless decided to
beg off.

"There are a lot of people who have asked me about
this," Christie noted with a measure of understatement. Three times
during a brief question and answer period following a speech at the
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the self-proclaimed "kid from
Jersey" was asked about 2012 and each time said he will forego a
presidential run.

At first, Christie told the audience of 900
people to watch an edited montage of his past statements on the
internet. He used humor with the second questioner, a New Jersey native
who said her mother wanted him to run. "I've got an airplane. I can take
you back right now," he said.

But it was the third time that
really brought out the feelings of the room and the non-candidate
himself. A woman nearly broke down into tears begging Christie to change
his mind. "We can't wait another four years to 2016," she said. "I
really implore you as a citizen of this country to please, sir,
reconsider." The audience erupted in applause in obvious support of a
Christie candidacy. Once again, his answer wasn't the one the crowd
wanted.

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