TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie made national headlines over his weight again — but this time because of a secret plan to shed some pounds.
Christie revealed Tuesday that he underwent Lap-Band stomach surgery in February at the urging of family and friends.
That led to a series of reactions across the country:
• New Jersey politicians praised Christie's decision but refused to speculate what it meant for his presidential hopes.
Christie to press on weight loss: "You're opinions on this issue don't matter" Speaking to reporters about his recent weight loss surgery, Gov. Chris Christie stressed he felt the decision was personal one and "not anyone else's business but mine." Addressing a phalanx of cameras that had gathered at a groundbreaking at the Essex County Newark Tech, Christie called the media obsession with his weight loss program "silly," adding he would not be offering any updates.
• Experts said the move could help the Republican in his potential 2016 run for president.
• Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Christie actually fares better politically as a heavyweight.
• Medical experts weighed in on the risks the governor took by having the surgery.
• The Star-Ledger editorial board said Christie's procedure was a good call, regardless of the reason.
• Snooki from MTV's "Jersey Shore" was among the celebrities and big names to comment on Twitter.
• And Christie himself said his decision was "nobody else's business" during a press conference in Newark.
Would you, like Gov. Chris Christie, undergo weight-loss surgery?
[h=3]POLL: CHRISTIE'S PROCEDURE[/h] Would you undergo the surgery Christie did to lose weight? (See poll at right.)
[h=3]CHRISTIE TO CO-HOST 'TODAY[/h] Meanwhile, NBC announced that Christie will co-host the "Today" show from the Jersey Shore later this month.
[h=3]IN OTHER NEWS ...[/h] • U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced a bill that would allow the U.S. to provide arms, military training and non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition, according to a report by Fox News.
• The state is reviewing whether a proposed $645,000 award to the Princeton Theological Seminary for construction projects is illegal.
[h=3]POLITICS AROUND THE WEB[/h] • NorthJersey.com: The 3,500-member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, a Parsippany-based electrical workers union, announced it has endorsed Christie for re-election.
&bill; New York Times: Delaware became the 11th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
• Washington Post: Mark Sanford, South Carolina's disgraced former Republican governor, won a special election for one of the state's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
[h=3]CONTACT US[/h] Call or e-mail a Star-Ledger Statehouse reporter.
Star-Ledger staff writers Matt Friedman, Kelly Heyboer, Ryan Hutchins, Susan K. Livio, Jenna Portnoy, Jarrett Renshaw, and Salvador Rizzo contributed to this report.
[h=3]MORE POLITICS[/h]
Christie revealed Tuesday that he underwent Lap-Band stomach surgery in February at the urging of family and friends.
That led to a series of reactions across the country:
• New Jersey politicians praised Christie's decision but refused to speculate what it meant for his presidential hopes.
Christie to press on weight loss: "You're opinions on this issue don't matter" Speaking to reporters about his recent weight loss surgery, Gov. Chris Christie stressed he felt the decision was personal one and "not anyone else's business but mine." Addressing a phalanx of cameras that had gathered at a groundbreaking at the Essex County Newark Tech, Christie called the media obsession with his weight loss program "silly," adding he would not be offering any updates.
• Experts said the move could help the Republican in his potential 2016 run for president.
• Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Christie actually fares better politically as a heavyweight.
• Medical experts weighed in on the risks the governor took by having the surgery.
• The Star-Ledger editorial board said Christie's procedure was a good call, regardless of the reason.
• Snooki from MTV's "Jersey Shore" was among the celebrities and big names to comment on Twitter.
• And Christie himself said his decision was "nobody else's business" during a press conference in Newark.
Would you, like Gov. Chris Christie, undergo weight-loss surgery?
[h=3]POLL: CHRISTIE'S PROCEDURE[/h] Would you undergo the surgery Christie did to lose weight? (See poll at right.)
[h=3]CHRISTIE TO CO-HOST 'TODAY[/h] Meanwhile, NBC announced that Christie will co-host the "Today" show from the Jersey Shore later this month.
[h=3]IN OTHER NEWS ...[/h] • U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced a bill that would allow the U.S. to provide arms, military training and non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition, according to a report by Fox News.
• The state is reviewing whether a proposed $645,000 award to the Princeton Theological Seminary for construction projects is illegal.
[h=3]POLITICS AROUND THE WEB[/h] • NorthJersey.com: The 3,500-member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, a Parsippany-based electrical workers union, announced it has endorsed Christie for re-election.
&bill; New York Times: Delaware became the 11th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
• Washington Post: Mark Sanford, South Carolina's disgraced former Republican governor, won a special election for one of the state's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
[h=3]CONTACT US[/h] Call or e-mail a Star-Ledger Statehouse reporter.
Star-Ledger staff writers Matt Friedman, Kelly Heyboer, Ryan Hutchins, Susan K. Livio, Jenna Portnoy, Jarrett Renshaw, and Salvador Rizzo contributed to this report.
[h=3]MORE POLITICS[/h]