Matt Lauer messed with Chris Christie during a Wednesday morning interview, but the governor of New Jersey quipped right back with refreshing honesty, eliciting audible laughter from "Today" show crew members behind the cameras.
The interview was one of many Christie gave the day after the midterm elections. As this year's elected chair of the Republican Governors Association, Christie helped raise more than $100 million and helped the GOP gain control of Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, and President Barack Obama's homestate of Illinois.
"As RGA chairman, here’s what you do: You raise money, you raise awareness. And the candidates have to do with that what they will," he explained to Lauer, humbly refusing to take all the credit for the victories. "It’s always about the candidates, and the candidates deserve the credit."
After discussing the Republican Party's victory wave that Christie helped usher in on Tuesday, Lauer turned the conversation to 2016, and the question of whether Christie will run for president.
Lauer was particularly interested in discussing Christie's straightforwardness, and how that might play out on the national stage. As an example, Lauer brought up Christie's recent dealings with a heckler at a public event. After letting the protestor say his piece, Christie told him to "sit down and shut up."
"Are you going to have to control that side of your personality to be seen as presidential outside the rough and tumble world of New Jersey politics?" Lauer asked.
"First of all, you’re assuming I wasn’t controlled," Christie replied.
"Maybe I should say, instead of controlling that side, do you have to hide that side of your personality outside of New Jersey?" Lauer said, amending his question.
"There’s no hope of that," Christie said, prompting a smile and a chuckle from Lauer.
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