Sin noticias de Christie en los estados clave

Newark Star-Ledger:

Gov. Chris Christie remained silent about whether he would run for president Monday, but officials in key nominating states said they have seen no evidence he was putting a campaign together with time running out to make a serious bid for the White House.

Christie continued to dodge questions from reporters in his only public appearance, his staff kept quiet and there was a growing sense among some politicians and operatives that it was too late to enter an already crowded battle for the Republican nomination.

The governor and his staff haven’t reached out to key players like Iowa’s Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who has praised Christie in the past. "It’s been radio silent," said Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Branstad.

In South Carolina, which has selected the GOP presidential nominee every time for the last 30 years, the Republican state chairman said he’s received no hint of what Christie will do.

(...) One Republican operative with connections to Christie’s camp said the governor’s team has discussed a campaign, but the groundwork needed for a run isn’t evident.

"You haven’t heard of individuals getting the call to begin to move into place," said the operative, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. "I don’t hear that kind of chatter regarding Christie."

(...) The governor would not take questions from reporters at the Passaic County Courthouse yesterday, where about 10 news trucks parked outside while he attended the swearing in ceremony for a judge.

Christie does not have any public appearances scheduled today. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno also deflected questions about Christie’s potential presidential run Monday, saying she had "nothing to add."

Asked if she was ready to step in as acting governor for long stretches of time if Christie hit the campaign trail, Guadagno said, "That is my job. That is what taxpayers pay me to do."