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New Jersey Governor Christie And Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Talk Politics

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For about an hour on Thursday afternoon, Mercer County, N.J. was at the center of the 2012 presidential contest, sort of.

That's where New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels met for a public conversation on politics and government. Call them the hottest candidates who aren't running.

"That's the dream ticket," said Roger DeAngelis of West Windsor. "I don't know who in which spot, but a lot of people call them the dream ticket for the Republicans."

Both Christie and Daniels have frequently been recruited to toss their hats into the race but both have repeatedly turned it down. Their conversation covered all sorts of topics relevant to state government, from health benefits for public sector workers to leasing public assets like toll roads.

Of course, though, they couldn't avoid talking about the presidential election.

"I think the president's in really bad shape," Gov. Daniels told the audience. "We need big change now."

Daniels says the country has to find common ground to reduce the deficit or else the price tag might become simply too large. He said he chose not to run for personal reasons and not even the negative economic news this summer since he made his decision would change his mind.

"This is not a decision, at that level, you make on your own," he said. "There are five women in my family. They are a formidable voice."

Gov. Christie reiterated what he's told local media so many times before: he is absolutely not running, also for personal reasons.

"It's got to be something you and your family really believe is not only the right thing to do, but you must do," Christie said.

But both governors voiced some displeasure with the current field of GOP candidates.

"I think that politicians on the national stage underestimate the American people, in both parties, and they think you're unwilling to hear hard truths," Christie said. "The fact that nobody yet who's running for president in my view has done that effectively is why you continue to hear people ask Daniels if he'll reconsider and ask me if I'll reconsider."

Christie says he believes he and Daniels can help steer the presidential conversation from the sidelines: "We have a challenge as the folks who are not involved in it, to be kind of prodding the people into talking about these things that are important to our states."

Toward the end of the 45 minute conversation, when asked why they wouldn't run, Daniels says he's definitely out but wouldn't be surprised if we saw Christie in Washington some day.

"I'm not taking 'No' from Christie, I'm taking 'Not yet'," he told the crowd to applause.

Reported by Ben Simmoneau, CBS 3

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