Christie: 'Now Is Not My Time'

Saying that "Now is not my time," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced Tuesday that he will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

Standing at a podium in the Statehouse in Trenton, Christie said he believed he owed it to the people of New Jersey to continue as governor. "It's never felt right... to me in my gut to leave here when the job is not finished," he said.

But Christie did not rule out a run for the presidency in the future, telling NBC News anchor Brian Williams that "I'm not going to preclude any job whether president or working at NBC."

The governor had repeatedly said he would not join the GOP campaign, but reports continued to surface in recent weeks that he was re-considering, under pressure from numerous Republican leaders unhappy with the current list of candidates.

Christie said his wife and four children had been supportive in a possible campaign. "Mary Pat woke me up a few days ago at 6 o'clock in the morning and told me, 'If you want to go for it, go for it,'" he said.

The governor didn't resist an opportunity to take a swipe at President Obama, saying the president had "failed the leadership test." But he said it was too early for him to make any endorsement of any of the current GOP contenders.

The pressure has intensified in recent days for the governor to make a decision after both Florida and South Carolina moved up the dates for their party primary to January, leaving only three months of campaigning before the actual selection of delegates begins.

State Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole (R-40th), said he was "relieved" at the news, and praised the governor's commitment to completing his term, and moving ahead with his agenda.

"I think there's a lot that still needs to get done. He's halfway through his reforms now, and it would be hard to continue them without his imposing presence. I think he recognizes that it's not his time yet."

O'Toole said he had "no doubt" that he would support the Governor in a future run for the White House.

Christie's announcement comes the same day as a new poll shows him in fourth place nationally in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination, behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, business executive Herman Cain and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

to the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, with some saying they thought he was doing a good job and would have voted for him, and others saying he was not helping the working class.  

“He has a lot more to do here in New Jersey," said Cheryl Martin of ATT Sports Inc., who was lunching at the Town Pub when Christie announced his decision.  “He’s doing a good job.  In five years he’s got a shot [at the presidency.]"