New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) again denied he will run for president in 2012, saying in an appearance on Fox News Sunday that his experience, including his time as U.S. Attorney, has not prepared him to run the country.
“I am not arrogant enough to believe that after one year as governor of New Jersey and seven years as U.S. Attorney that I am ready to be president,” said Christie, who is nonetheless on the top of many pundits’ lists. “I don’t think you run just because political opportunity is there. That’s how we end up with politicians who aren’t prepared for their jobs.”
Christie served as the state’s U.S. Attorney from January 2002 to December 2008. In the 2009 gubernatorial campaign, the campaign of then-Gov. Jon Corzine (D) raised ethical issues about Christie’s tenure as the state’s top federal prosecutor, questioning his expenses and whether he used his position to avoid traffic tickets.
But Christie handily defeated Corzine and has since seen his profile rise nationally after taking on teacher’s unions and working to reduce state spending.
