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Christie Sees Romney Lead by April

NJ Gov. still eyed for late entry in 2012 presidential race

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012 | Updated 3:24 PM EDT

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NJ Gov. Chris Christie predicts former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will pull ahead of the competition by April.

Gov. Chris Christie is still getting requests to run for President in 2012.

The NJ governor says he's only interested in having Mitt Romney secure the nomination, despite being courted privately to jump into the presidential contest.

Christie tells George Stephanopoulos of ABC's "Good Morning America" he hasn't changed his mind about not entering the race. The governor said a candidate would have to want to be drafted into the race, and he doesn't.

Christie predicts Romney's sputtering campaign will regain its momentum and that he will be the clear front runner by April.

Christie also blamed the system of awarding delegates proportionally with dragging out the nominating process for Republicans. He said the protracted inter-party battle is hurting Republicans' chances of unseating Barack Obama in November.

"We ought to get a nominee" and focus on the president's record, Christie said.

The NJ primary is set for June 5. Presidential primaries will be held April 24 in Pa. and Del.

The Republican governor did the live television interview Wednesday morning before a town hall style event in northern New Jersey, where he will begin to sell his $32.1 billion budget to New Jersey residents.