TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie was on the road more than he was in New Jersey last year.

Christie spent 261 partial or full days traveling outside of New Jersey in 2015 as he campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination, according to figures provided by his administration.

That's 72 percent of the year.

But those figures include short trips the governor took to neighboring Pennsylvania and New York, where Christie often traveled to appear on news programs or speak at events before returning home.

Thus, the administration says, Christie spent 190 days out of state last year if you exclude those trips.

That's still 52 percent spent outside New Jersey.

The governor's travels have drawn the ire of critics over the last two years. In 2014, Christie spent all or part of 137 days out of the Garden State, with the bulk of that time campaigning for GOP gubernatorial candidates across the country as part of his duties as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

The traveling increased in 2015, as Christie repeatedly campaigned in Iowa and New Hampshire, the states that host the nation's first presidential caucus and presidential primary, respectively. He also made stops in South Carolina, Florida,Texas, and Washington D.C., and spent three days in London.

The trips have paid off so far -- at least in New Hampshire, where the Real Clear Politics average of polls show him behind only Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in the GOP race.

Christie defended his New Jersey attendance record during an interview on "Fox News Sunday" this past weekend, stressing that he's "on the job every day."

"Anybody who has been a governor, and anyone who hasn't been I understand don't understand this, I am on the job every day no matter where I am," he said. "There's never a day off and I'm always working to help the people of New Jersey to do my job."

CRITICISM OF CHRISTIE'S TRAVELS

But during a rally last week, Trump -- the billionaire businessman and Republican front-runner -- bashed Christie for spending so much time in New Hampshire while New Jersey's economy has suffered. The Garden State has seen nine credit rating downgrades during Christie's time as governor and is home to some of the highest property taxes in the country.

"We love New Hampshire, but he shouldn't be up here all the time," Trump told the crowd in Nashua, N.H., on Dec. 28. "He's supposed to be running the state."

Christie has repeatedly noted that the Garden State was in worse shape before he took office and that he has helped curb property tax increases. He has also touted that over the last six years, New Jersey has seen 225,000 new private sector jobs.

Experts say part of the reason Christie's approval rating in New Jersey has dropped to record lows -- in the 30s -- in recent polls is because he is out of state so often. A Monmouth University poll from July found 76 percent of Jerseyans believed Christie was more concerned with his political future than governing his state.

Christie brushed the figures aside during his recent "Fox News Sunday" appearance.

"The fact is: Whenever you're looking for a new job, your current employer gets a little miffed. I get that," he said. "But I was very honest with the people in New Jersey in 2013, when I ran for reelection. I told them there was a possibility I would run for president."

Christie was also called hypocritical recently after slamming Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida, for a spotty attendance record in Congress.

"Dude, show up to work," Christie also a crowd in Iowa on Dec. 29. "Show up to work and vote. And if you don't like it, quit."

Rubio brushed off the critique.

"Chris Christie is a funny guy, but he's never in New Jersey," the senator said. "He's gone half the time."

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.