New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appears to be backtracking on earlier vows not to run for the GOP presidential nomination, despite pleas by many in his party to do just that.
NBC New York has confirmed that the Republican in his first term is now considering a run for president, after months of adamantly denying he would get into the 2012 race.
Sources tell NBC New York he's reconsidering his past denials due to what he felt was a strong outpouring of support during appearances throughout the country this week, especially during his stop at the Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday.
Christie was with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Thursday to raise money for the state GOP, and also made appearances in Missouri this week. The buzz about him entering the race has grown louder in recent days.
Amid this decision to reconsider, his closest advisers -- who are normally accessible to the media -- have been told to shut down their access, and not respond for "the next couple of days."
Indications are he will make a decision by early next week.
The filing deadline to appear on the Florida primary ballot is Oct. 31.
Christie's denials of any interest in a 2012 run have not been flimsy. Last January he said he had made a pledge to Garden State voters to be their governor.
In May, he said he was "thrilled" by the attention, but added "I just don't want to do it."
A month later, he said he was "100 percent certain" he would not run next year, adding that he was making the decision "based on whether I believe in my heart that I'm ready to be president of the United States."
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Watch a video of his many denials here.
