As the will-he-or-won't he—and the maybe-he's-too-heavy—speculation continues to build, a source tells Chris Christie's hometown paper that the New Jersey governor may soon stop saying no. Pressure from Republicans—including major donors unhappy with the current field—is beginning to pay off and Christie is thinking about launching a 2012 bid before time runs out, according to the Newark Star-Ledger, which describes the source as somebody close to the governor.
Christie's list of reasons not to run has grown shorter this week, with the governor no longer saying he is unprepared for the presidency or lacking fire in the belly. Another reason Christie has giving for not running is "my wife would kill me,” but Mary Pat stopped objecting to her husband seeking the presidency after having a heart-to-heart talk with Barbara Bush, a Christie adviser says. If Christie is going to declare, he'll need to do it soon: Deadlines are looming, including the October 31 filing date for Florida's primary. (More Chris Christie stories.)