FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has shut the door on a 2012 presidential run, saying "now is not my time."
Christie says he won't abandon the commitment he made to his state as governor – you know, unlike a certain half-term dropout governor of Alaska.
Christie put it this way: "New Jersey, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."
This also means that whether Republican voters like it or not, they are stuck with the current crop of Republican candidates.
Unless, that is, Sarah Palin decides she'll get in. But it's getting a little late for that. Plus, more than two-thirds of Republicans say they don't want Palin to run for president.
So with Christie out, it looks like Republicans will nominate either Mitt Romney or Rick Perry, who's sinking fast in the polls.
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Romney leading the pack at 25%.
Perry is now tied for second place with businessman Herman Cain at 16%.
For Perry, that's a whopping 13 percentage-point drop in this poll.
The Texas governor's stock has been falling after a shaky debate performance and questions about where he stands on Social Security and immigration.
Cain, on the other hand, has been surging in national polls after his surprise win in the Florida straw poll – and a flurry of media attention.
Ron Paul is the only other candidate receiving double-digit support in this survey, at 11%.
With primary season sneaking up on us, it's time for Republicans to pick their poison.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:
It’s like asking, "Who won the Miss Secaucus Beauty Contest in 1955?...Nobody!" No one wins even if they run and win. America is on the decline courtesy of both the Republicans and Democrats – and Americans wishing to buy their snake oil politics. Christie is the big winner for staying out of it and perhaps being recruited as the Number 2 on the ticket with Romney. New Jersey's Big Boy gets his cake and can eat it too.
Harriet in Bayside, New York:
I think that there are two Republican candidates who benefit: Romney and Huntsman. But, the person who really benefits is President Obama.
Ron:
None of them. I mean, what does it say that the media flocked to Christie like seagulls to a kid with popcorn? It is obvious that the current bunch are leftover scraps and the GOP is still looking. Still way early. The GOP is toast. It can't win!
Joe on Facebook:
Without a doubt, Romney. Perry and Bachmann are fighting over the far right wing tea party voters. Christie was appealing to the more moderate wing of the Republican Party, and with him gone, Romney will pick up the more rational Republicans.
Brandon:
None of them do. Maybe you guys didn't notice but Christie was never going to run. I'm sure the rest of the morons, I mean candidates, knew that too. You guys have just been hounding the poor guy because you don't want to report on things that actually matter. Get with the program, Jack, you’re as much a part of the problem as the rest of us.
Cardhu in Colorado:
So Gov. Coronary is staying in N.J. This is good news for the rest of us in the other 49 states. The candidate who benefits the most is President Barack Obama. The Republican Tallest Leprechaun contest can now continue.