US candidate ‘out to change world’

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie opened his 2016 campaign for president and, never one to aim small, declared he’s “out to change the world.”

The Republican governor, a one-time GOP favourite who faded and now tries to climb back, told a rally in the gymnasium of his old high school that his last 13 years as a US attorney and governor have been about “fighting for fairness and justice and opportunity” and he wants to do the same for the country.

“America is tired of hand-wringing and indecisiveness and weakness in the Oval Office,” he said.

“We need to have strength and decision-making and authority back in the Oval Office. And that is why today I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States of America.”

Hours earlier, Christie spoke by phone with donors, friends and out-of-state supporters.

“The idea of going back to where you were when you were 15, or 16, or 17 years old, and to be able to stand in front of that group of people and offer yourself to the presidency is a really, really amazing moment,” Christie told them.

He said he’s “ready to go” on “what I hope is going to be a really noble and successful effort to try to lead our country and to change the world.”

Four years ago, some of Christie’s backers tried to persuade him to challenge President Barack Obama. In the years since, he won re-election with ease, but also struggled to revive New Jersey’s moribund economy and fought with the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature over pensions and the state budget.

The governor faces a tough sell with many conservatives, but has seemingly found his stride at times in visits to early voting states with the lively town hall meetings he’s known for at home. There will be plenty more of those now that he’s an affirmed candidate.

Emboldened by his political successes in heavily Democratic New Jersey, he seems himself as a leader who can work across Washington’s bitter partisan divide.

“He’s respecting his roots,” said Stephen Slotnick, a fellow classmate who applauded the governor for including “the people who’ve grown up with him, the people who’ve supported him his entire life.”