Politics & Government

Christie Doesn't Buy Buono's Explanation of Apparent Weight Remark

Christie: rival's comment on 'frolicking at the beach' a 'cheap shot'

"We know what that meant," Gov. Chris Christie said Monday morning in Beach Haven.

He was referring to a comment made by his Democratic rival in the gubernatorial race, state Sen. Barbara Buono, in which she was quoted as saying an image of "Chris Christie frolicking on the beach is not going to drive me to go to the Shore."

The Buono campaign passed off the statement, posted online this week to YouTube, as an off-the-cuff remark that was critical of the effectiveness of the "Stronger than the Storm" ad campaign promoting Shore tourism in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Christie has faced criticism over the campaign, which was produced by a politically active advertising agency and cost $2 million more than the price proposed by another bidder.

But Christie, speaking to reporters after the reopening of Beach Haven Elementary School in Ocean County for the first time since Sandy struck, said he wasn't buying the explanation provided by his opponent's campaign.

"Anybody who watches that video knows exactly what she meant and what she was talking about," said Christie. "If she wants to conduct herself that way in the campaign, that's fine, I'll deal with it. I have broad shoulders, broad other stuff too at times, and I'll deal with that kind of cheap shot and criticism when it comes."

Christie referenced a similar incident that came up during his first campaign for governor in 2009, when an advertisement for his former rival, ex-Gov. Jon Corzine, said Christie "threw his weight around" to get out of a traffic ticket. Over the narration, the television ad infamously showed an unbecoming, slow-motion video of Christie getting out of a car.

"I would just remind all of you that, when Governor Corzine did the same thing four years ago, he denied it too," said Christie. "But, you know, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck."

Christie said he has struggled with his weight for 20 years, is in better shape than he was six months ago and plans to be in even better shape six months from now.

In February, it was announced that Christie had undergone a surgical weight loss procedure.


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