Chris Christie Announces Presidential Run for 2016 Election

He made his presentation from Livingston High School

Chris Christie is officially throwing his name into the GOP election pool.

The New Jersey governor announced his presidential run Tuesday morning from Livingston High School, where he graduated from in 1980. Protestors gathered outside of the school before the event began, chanting their dislike for the candidate. Inside the gymnasium, however, supporters gathered to support the politician.   

As for why he chose Livingston, he said, "Everything started here for me. The confidence, the education, the friends, the family and the love that I've always felt for and from this community when I decided to make this announcement.

"There wasn't a choice. I had to come home and Livingston is home for me," he added.

Christie gushed about his children and his wife, who he said is "largely responsible for the four amazing people you see standing with her."

He also talked about New Jersey as a state and how it has forced people to work together.

"This place that represents the most ethnically diverse state in the country; the most densely populated state in the country...We're all on top of each other," he said. "What has come from that is the absolute belief that we have no choice but to work together. This country has to work together again not against each other."

Two days before making the official announcement, Christie unveiled a video, Telling It Like It Is, in which he discussed his relationship with his parents and the idea of running for president. He also relayed advice he believed his mother would say to him.

"I know if my mom were still alive, she would say to me, 'I taught you that in a trusting relationship, you don't hold anything back,'" Christie said. "'And if you're gonna run for president of the United States, and you're gonna ask these people for their vote, that is the single most trusting thing they can do as a citizen is to give you their support, so you better tell them exactly what you're thinking and exactly what you're feeling.'"

The video ends with "Christie 2016."

Although the Bridgegate scandal is in his past, the political controversy has negatively affected his favorability ratings. But with emotional monologues about his mother and his memories of her, Christie has been hoping to better explain his unusual style to voters.

Despite the video all but announcing his bid, Christie said last Thursday that he still wasn't sure whether or not he would run. But this past weekend he began promoting his new website ChrisChristie.com. After his announcement he's expected in New Hampshire, where he has an event followed by several days of campaign events, according to Yahoo News. 

He also discussed the country's "weak" economy and anxiety-ridden people. He said that American citizens aren't "angry"; instead, they're nervous about what's to come.

"That anxiety can be swept away by strong leadership and decisiveness to lead America again," he said.

He soon parlayed into a speech about the problems with current President Barack Obama and other candidates, including Hillary Clinton. "After 7 years of a weak and feckless foreign policy run by Barack Obama, we better not turn it over to his second mate Hilary Clinton."

Christie also promised a campaign "without spin and without pandering." He added, "You're gonna get what I like whether you like it or not."

He also promised a campaign with truthful answers, and a campaign that "every day will not worry about what is popular, but what is right."