Rumor: Chris Christie Running Focus Groups For 2012 Presidential Run

Photograph of Christie and his soccer game transportation from Patch.com

Christopher Robbins

Published Aug 17, 2011

Modified Aug 17, 2011

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Has someone talked Chris Christie down from the ledge at 30 Rock? Jonathan Alter, a political reporter for Bloomberg, just tweeted: "BREAKING: My sources say NJ Gov. Chris Christie is conducting focus groups in preparation for a possible run for president in 2012." Now everyone's all-a-Twitterin' about how Christie WONT be committing suicide.

On Sunday, the Times' token conservative Ross Douthat all but begged Christie to join the race, as he is widely viewed as the establishment's choice (including pal Rupert Murdoch). Just a few weeks ago Christie had a big conference call with potential donors and well wishers to let them down, telling them definitively (or so we thought), "I'm not running." Did Christie take a long look at Marine One and have a change of heart?