Governor Chris Christie says it was family rather than presidential politics that convinced him to undergo weight-reduction surgery.
“I did this for myself, my wife and my children,” Christie, who turned 50 last autumn, told reporters Tuesday.
“It had nothing to do with running for governor this year, with running for president at any time in my life if I ever decided to do that,” added Christie. “It may sound odd to some people but this is a hell of a lot more important than running for president.”
But regardless of his motivation, the news that the heavyweight New Jersey governor had lap-band surgery in February will have an effect on his chances of winning the White House should he decide to run for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
While the surgery and anticipated weight loss should negate the nagging question of whether a person as obese as Christie is healthy enough to endure the demands of the presidency, it won’t help him with suspicions by those on the right over his conservative credentials.
