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Gov. Chris Christie sits down with David Letterman on tonight's show.

(Photo by CBS)

Gov. Chris Christie had David Letterman eating out of the palm of his hand — well, almost.

In his debut appearance on “The Late Show” tonight, the governor shared a jelly doughnut with Letterman and recited some of the many jokes the comedian has made about his weight over the years.

He walked on stage to Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra’s rendition of his musical hero Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” and soon revealed a doughnut hidden in his suit pocket.

An impatient Christie took a bite, licked his fingers and said, “I didn't know this was going to be this long.” The audience responded with laughter.

Taking a somewhat serious turn, Letterman asked Christie if his four children and wife ever encourage him to diet.

“Every day,” Christie said, joking that they say: “Perhaps you might want to get smaller pants one day and then the need is to lose some weight.”

But, the governor added, his cholesterol and blood sugar are normal and he’s in “startlingly good health.”

“I’m basically the healthiest fat guy you’ve ever seen in your life,” Christie said. Letterman chimed in: “That’s basically your campaign poster.”

The Republican governor went on to read two of his favorite jokes Letterman has made at his expense.

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"‘Celebrity birthday today — Chris Christie turned 50’” Christie said. “‘He blew out the candles on his cake, and he wished for another cake.’” Then he added: “‘A billion dollars will be spent on potato chips for Super Bowl Sunday, and that’s just at Governor Christie’s house.’”

Continuing the doughnut gag, a speechless Letterman took a bite of Christie’s half-eaten pastry. Before the show was over, Christie chowed down on yet another doughnut.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback and South Jersey native Joe Flacco was also on the show. Like Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie, the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII, went to University of Delaware.

The governor's office has poked fun at Letterman’s constant ribbing in the past. A July “Christie by the Numbers” press release tallied the number of “David Letterman Fat Jokes” at an inflated 327,832.

Following the afternoon taping, he attended the first fundraiser of his re-election campaign in New Brunswick. Friend and fundraiser Bill Palatucci said the event brings the governor’s total war chest to about $3 million.

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