While his presidential ambitions may have been thwarted by his weight during the 2012 elections, New Jersey governor Chris Christie has shown he can still hit a ball - and that he has lost a substantial amount of weight since secretly undergoing surgery in February 2013.
The potential Republican presidential contender took part in a celebrity softball game for charity last night, swinging for the fences at the Yankee Stadium.
Christie, 52, who still has a somewhat rotund figure, stepped up to the plate during the 'True Blue' game held in honor of Wenjian Liu, Brian Moore and Rafael Ramos - NYPD officers who were all killed in the line of duty.
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New Jersey Gov Chris Christie bats during the first inning of the True Blue benefit celebrity softball game
Eye on the ball: Christie showed his prowess on the field with his catching and throwing
Video courtesy NJ.com
Despite not managing to hit a home run, he was named MVP for his defensive effort in the first of four games at the Stadium.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Silver Shield Foundation and the PBA Widows' and Children's Fund.
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Share 202 sharesChristie, who was a star catcher in high school and continues to be a baseball fan, appeared enthusiastic throughout the game, particularly when playing third base.
In 2012 Barbara Walters asked the governor if he agreed with the criticism that he is too fat to run for the position of Commander in Chief.
Potential Republican presidential contender and governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, took part in a celebrity softball game for charity last night
'That's ridiculous, I mean that's ridiculous- I don't know what the basis for that is,' he replied.
One of the concerns often cited by his critics in 2012 was that the politician's obesity increases the risk of health problems like possible Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancers.
The governor had lap-band surgery in February 2013, and said at the time he had the surgery to restrict his food intake because he wanted to become healthy for his family's sake.
He denied that his potential presidential plans had anything to do with the decision to undergo surgery.
'My decisions about anything to do with my career are based upon what I think is best for me and best for my family,' he said.
'Whatever size I happen to be when I have to make a decision about what to do next in my career, I doubt that'll play any role or effect in what I decide to do.'
Last night's game was played shortly after Christie announced he intends to compete actively in South Carolina if he chooses to run for the Republican presidential candidate - despite some perceptions that his brash style and record on issues like gun control will not appeal to voters in the South's first 2016 primary.
Christie talked up his conservative credentials to a room of South Carolina voters on Tuesday evening, as he kicked off his first visit to the early-voting state in nearly five months.
He had been scheduled to attend a meet-and-greet at a Columbia bar called the Liberty Tap Room, but the event turned into an impromptu town hall meeting, with Christie answering questions from the crowd for an hour and a half.
Christie held a town hall event in Greenville and toured the city's downtown business district, where he bumped into one former New Jersey resident after the next.
No slouch: Christie showed he was equally adept at glove work and batting
Team talk: Christie 'rallied the troops' with an inspirational pep talk
Christie speaks at the Third Annual Champions of Jewish Values International Awards Gala last month
Then on Wednesday during the town hall at Tommy's Country Ham House, Christie made clear he does not mind ruffling a few feathers.
'Here's one thing I can guarantee you,' he said. 'If I decide to run for president and if I ever won, the one thing you would not have to worry about is whether some china would be broken in the process, OK?'
He told residents that the elimination of the National Security Agency's bulk collection of Americans' telephone records will make the U.S. more vulnerable.
Under a new law, the NSA will lose the power to collect and store phone records in bulk. The government still can obtain data connected to specific numbers from phone companies through court orders.
'Exactly what we want to count on,' Christie said sarcastically. 'We want to put our national security in the hands of the phone companies.'
He added: 'Come on. This could only be made up in Washington, D.C. Only in Washington, D.C., could they try to sell this and expect the American people are going to believe it.'
The 'True Blue' game was held in honor of Brian Moore, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos (from left to right) - three NYPD officers who were all killed in the line of duty
Christie, left and Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, right, celebrate as they head to the dugout during the first inning of the True Blue benefit celebrity softball game at Yankee Stadium last night
In Spartanburg, Christie defended his record on firearms, blaming New Jersey's stringent gun laws on a Democratic state Legislature.
Christie ran his early campaigns for public office defending New Jersey's ban on assault-style weapons and received a 'C' grade from the National Rifle Association in 2013.
But he recently vetoed a bill that would have further limited the size of magazine clips, and he's pardoned out-of-state visitors charged with breaking laws about carrying concealed guns.
Christie said he thinks voters who look at his record will 'come away feeling fairly secure about the fact that I have a good, smart, balanced approach to this.'
The governor says he plans to decide this month whether to run for the GOP nomination. The visit was Christie's first in nearly five months to South Carolina.
Before he was elected governor of New Jersey, Christie served as a U.S. attorney for George W. Bush.
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