Carl Lewis: Christie Wanted Me Out of Senate Race

Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped a plan to appoint him the state's first physical fitness ambassador when he launched a political campaign against a Christie friend.

Lewis said Monday the governor called to dissuade him from running as a Democrat for state Senate in 2011 against Republican Sen. Dawn Addiego. Lewis says he was told the fitness program they'd been developing wouldn't materialize if he ran. Lewis says the governor felt the post "was a carrot he could pull away."

Lewis withdrew from the Senate race after a court ruled he didn't meet a residency requirement. He now lives in Houston.

Democrats have said recent scandals involving traffic jams and Superstorm Sandy aid are more evidence Christie is a bully.

Christie's administration hasn't returned an email seeking comment.