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Booker 'Has Not Made a Decision' Regarding Running for Governor

December 10, 2012

Newark Mayor Cory Booker reiterated Monday he has not made a decision yet about challenging Gov. Chris Christie in the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial race, but will decide in the next week to two weeks, in an interview with Soledad O'Brien.

Booker appeared to be taken off-guard from O'Brien's question, describing the question like a no-look pass from former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson. Yesterday when the same question was asked to Booker with an ample lead-in by Bob Schieffer, Booker was more confident, saying he is "absolutely" considering a run for higher office.

In the Monday interview, Booker did not rule a run out because of Christie's polling advantage. Recent Public Policy Poll data shows Christie leading Booker in a hypothetical race 50-36.

"The polling shows Christie way ahead of you in that," O'Brien said Monday. "Do you look at that?"

"Polling showed George Bush I way ahead and sailing towards reelection, he got an incredible bounce," Booker said.

"There's a lot of issues in our state that (Christie) is not falling in line with, from women's issues, from environmental issues, from really going at it in a balanced way," Booker went on to say of the Republican governor.

In the most recent PPP polling, 56 percent of New Jersey Democrats approve of Christie's job. Women approved Christie's handling of the Hurricane Sandy 91-8 and Democrats 90-9.

View Booker's answer to Schieffer below: