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Would Christie help Perry in GOP race?

Former first lady Nancy Reagan (C), New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R), Gayle Wilson (L) are seated before Christie speaks at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. UPI/Kevork Djansezian/Pool
Former first lady Nancy Reagan (C), New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R), Gayle Wilson (L) are seated before Christie speaks at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. UPI/Kevork Djansezian/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie enters the GOP presidential primary, it could be a boon to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign, a political analyst said Sunday.

Christie, a Republican, hasn't officially entered the race, but if he did, it would cause a stir in the field of GOP candidates, said Mark Penn, chief campaign strategist for Hillary Clinton during her bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

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"Well, (Christie) getting in would be Romney's worst nightmare. To have two Northeastern governors splitting the Northeastern governor's vote is a big gift to Rick Perry at a time he needs a gift. So I know what the people in the race are thinking right now. One's saying, 'How do we keep him out?' The other's saying, 'How do we get him in?'" Penn said on ABC's "This Week."

Matt Katz, who writes the Christie Chronicles blog for the Philadelphia Inquirer, said the latest he heard from Christie's camp is the governor does not plan to run for president despite conflicting reports all week.

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"It's been a wild week on the Christie beat, and it's gone back and forth. There's been no active preparations. But the line is still that he's reconsidering. Whether that means he's actually reconsidering or it's just good for business, we don't know," Katz said.

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