Christie: Romney 'Can Win This Election. We Cannot Have Another Four Years of Barack Obama'

HANNITY: Now, came just hours before tonight's Republican debate at Dartmouth College. Joining me now, the man himself Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey, Governor, how are you?

CHRISTIE: Great, Sean. How are you?

HANNITY: All right. I understand you've got some protestors and some I guess Romney supporters, I can see the signs behind you.

CHRISTIE: Yes.

HANNITY: Is this the Occupy New Hampshire now?

CHRISTIE: I'm not listening Sean. I have really no idea. They are arguing and yelling about a lot of stuff. Free speech is alive and well here in New Hampshire.

HANNITY: All right. Let's talk about your -- first, let's talk about your decision. I mean, you really, you've said, no, no, no but people kept coming back to you. Tell us about the process. Why do you think people kept coming to you and how close did you come to maybe getting into the race?

CHRISTIE: Well, you'd have to ask them first of all, Sean. I think it was because of the record that we've developed in New Jersey. I mean, you know, two years in a row balancing over $13 billion in deficits, no increased taxes, a third less regulations on the last year of the Corzine administration. More state workers and government workers cut by percentage than any state in America in the last 20 months. I mean, we promised smaller government and lower taxes and we are delivering on that. I think that is why. I think people like the record we had in New Jersey and thought that we might be able to apply it to the rest of the country. But as far as my -- making process, it was always no but, you know, when you have people who are very, very serious coming to you. After a while Mary Pat and I said, you know, we need to give this is a serious reconsideration. We did but I just felt my commitment to New Jersey was to serve out this term. And I need do that. I feel like I want to do that. And so, it really wasn't that hard a decision in the end.

HANNITY: You said that you spoke to some of the other candidates, you spoke to Huntsman, you spoke to Gingrich, you spoke to, basically all the candidates throughout the process, but you've been in touch often with Mitt Romney. And then you had a weekend together, last weekend. Tell us about why you chose Governor Romney.

CHRISTIE: Well, first of all because I think Governor Romney is the best candidate to beat Barack Obama next November. And we cannot have another four years of Barack Obama in the White House. And so, first I believe that is the biggest reason to support Mitt Romney. In addition, this is guy who's got executive experience in both the private sector and the public sector. He knows how to use government authority as a governor, he also knows how to turn things around as a guy in the executive positions in business. And lastly, I believe in the governor's integrity. We had a great time to sit down and talk this past Saturday, myself and Mary Pat with Mitt and Ann and it seal the deal for me. He is somebody who I believe can win. And I believe we'll take our country in a different direction.

HANNITY: All right. You were asked repeatedly today about the issue of whether or not you would consider being his running mate. And you said, quote that, you know, that is not a decision that I have to think about right now. I cannot imagine it happening. I can imagine it happening.

CHRISTIE: Well, maybe he should ask you then. You know, I don't know.

HANNITY: I mean, I can't imagine happening for you.

CHRISTIE: I just can't imagine. Listen, I just can't imagine it. And the bottom-line is, you don't run for something like that. The fact is that, whoever the nominee for the party is, and I believe it's going to be Governor Romney, he'll have the opportunity to make the choice the person he thinks will best serve him as a running mate, it best serve the country as vice president. And then ultimately, if need be can serve as president as well. That is going to be his call to nominate a party. And, you know, what? I got a lot of things to do in New Jersey. I'm committed to doing my job in New Jersey as well as I can do it. I'm not going worry about stuff that I have no control over.

HANNITY: All right. I think you went out of your way today. This isn't an indictment against the other candidates, you just chose Governor Romney. If any of the other candidates were to emerge and were to win the nomination, will you support any of them?

CHRISTIE: Of course, absolutely. I think you are right. Listen, I think Governor Romney is the best candidate, that the Republicans have to choose from in this cycle to be our nominee and to ultimately be the president of United States. But as I said, I've had conversations with a number of the other candidates. I have great respect for them. But in the end, I don't think this was a close call for me, I think Governor Romney is the person that can win this election. We cannot have another four years of Barack Obama, Sean. I know you know that and understand it. And I just believe that Governor Romney is the person who gives us the best chance to be able to beat Barack Obama next November.