PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Some New Jersey Republicans reportedly hope they can still persuade U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie to run for governor in 2005.
Christie announced in November he would not be a candidate after it became clear none of the seven other Republicans pursuing the gubernatorial nod would drop out of the race. The effort to convince him to reconsider is being led by Republicans who think that, in the two months since he said he would not run, none of the remaining candidates has emerged as the frontrunner.
"Nobody's caught fire," U.S. Rep. Michael Ferguson, R-N.J., told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "People are looking around to see if there are any other candidates, and Chris Christie's name keeps getting mentioned."
Christie would have to resign as U.S. attorney to run. His allies said Christie decided not to risk his current job in the face of a bitterly contested primary, and then a general election campaign against U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, the Democrats' probable nominee who could fund his own campaign.
