MORE CHRISTIE – AT 9:33 A.M. ET:  There is more yapping about Chris Christie as a possible presidential candidate.  He keeps denying he's in, or will get in...but he keeps talking about it, and that feeds the yapping.  From NBC News:

Chris Christie said he knows he could win the White House if he ran for president next year.

The New Jersey governor and GOP rock star made the comments in an interview with the National Review last week while he was in Washington D.C., which was published Tuesday night.

"I have people calling me and saying to me, 'Let me explain to you how you could win.' And I’m like, 'You’re barking up the wrong tree. I already know I could win.' That's not the issue."

It's the furthest out there Christie has gone about his thinking about the 2012 race, which many conservative pundits have been pleading with him to join, citing the weakness of the field. In a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, he acknowledged he sees the opportunity, but didn't say that he also clearly sees a road to the White House over a field of more than a dozen potential GOP rivals.

He added, "The issue is not me sitting here and saying, 'Geez, it might be too hard. I don’t think I can win.' I see the opportunity both at the primary level and at the general election level. I see the opportunity. But I’ve got to believe I’m ready to be president, and I don’t. And I think that that’s the basis you have to make that decision."

WHOOPS!  That's about a 95% on the amateur meter.  You never say you're not ready.  It's the kind of quote that gets hung around your neck if you wind up with the nomination.  From this point forward, Christie must be very careful about not saying anything that can be used against him.  He has to be read his political Miranda rights. 

That having been said, there is a gut feeling in the Republican Party that the usual bench of candidates doesn't contain anyone sufficiently juicy to take on Obama.  I have doubts about Christie's boxing-ring manner, but the man is alive and exciting, and he's doing a great job.  He has also been discussing the presidency more and more, and has spoken out on national issues. 

Maybe he will reassess his readiness, and explain that what he really meant was that he wasn't ready to run because he didn't have enough suits, or charged batteries for his laptop.  This will be a fascinating story if none of the other candidates catches fire.

March 2, 2011