Matt Lauer to Christie: ‘Do You Have the Temperament To Be President?’

Christie: ‘Absolutely!’

LAUER: “Following Bridgegate, I saw a much quieter Chris Christie, a more reflective Chris Christie. Today it almost seemed like a re-launch of the blunt Chris Christie of old.”

CHRISTIE: “There is no question that the badgering and battering that I took in the media, and the stress of having something bad happen on your watch. No doubt made me more reflective. And I’m still that reflective person, and more reflective now than I was in 2011 or '12. But –“

LAUER: “If that old brand of Chris Christie was the combative, straight talking, in your face guy, what's the brand today?”

CHRISTIE: “It’s that same guy, but with more -- more wear on the tires. Little more wear on the tires, a little more wisdom. And I think that’s great for anybody who is going to be president of the United States.”

LAUER: “Some Republicans worry about your temperament. Do you have the temperament to be president of the United States?”

CHRISTIE: “Absolutely. There has been very few times, Matt, in the course of my governorship, where I have lost my temper. It’s happened, but very few times.”

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CHRISTIE: “You want to have the conversation later, I’m happy to have it buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up.”

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CHRISTIE: “When you look at most of this moments, Matt, it is an absolute controlled anger. A controlled anger. I’m angry about the facts that taxpayers were being ripped off in New Jersey. I’m angry about the fact that our urban kids can't get a good education. I’m angry about those things, you're darn right I am. And I think America wants someone who's willing to fight for that. As long as that anger is controlled. And then with me, it is almost all the time.”

LAUER: “How do you think you'll stack up against those other 13 candidates?”

CHRISTIE: “I believe in myself and I believe in what I have to offer the American people, and I believe that I have always been able to connect with real people. And I think if I do those three things over the course of the next 18 months, I’m going to be the next president of the United States. And if I don't, I won't.”

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