Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to the media at the 3rd Annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner at The Grappone Center, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 in Concord, N.H.

(Mary Schwalm/AP)

CONCORD — Gov. Chris Christie gave the first glimpse of what he'd do if Americans elected him to the White House while speaking to New Hampshire Republicans in the presidential battleground state tonight.

"Within the first 100 days, if I were to run for president and be elected, we would change this tax system in this country so that people and companies aren't leaving the country anymore," Christie said during a brief question and answer session with audience members at the Concord and Merrimack County GOP Annual Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner.

"Secondly, we would pass a national energy policy, and one that takes full advantage of all of the resources that we have available to us to help grow our economy and make the world a more peaceful and stable place," he said. "And the third thing is ... is to reestablish American leadership around the world."

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The governor, who's taken concrete steps toward a nationwide campaign, was asked for two pieces of legislation he'd push if elected president. He declared the U.S. has a "ridiculous tax system."

It's the first time Christie clearly articulated a presidential agenda, but he dismissed the notion that he broke any new ground following his speech.

"They asked me the question and those are things I've been talking about that I think are important for the country," Christie said. "It's nothing new."

But it was new, and just as new as Christie's formulation of clearly presidential talking points was his willingness to again begin taking questions from average voters.

This was Christie's first trip to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state this year. He traveled to New Hampshire five times ahead of the November elections as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

But this appearance was more about selling himself to New Hampshire voters than boasting about the accomplishments of a fellow Republican who hoped to occupy the state's governor's mansion.

"I was impressed," said Bryan Gould, a New Hampshire Republican State Committeeman. "I thought he was reasonable and well spoken."

Before the event, Christie swatted away questions from reporters about whether or not Mitt Romney would make a good choice for vice president on his ticket, saying it would be "presumptuous" to speculate. He said he and the former GOP presidential nominee remain good friends.



The governor entertained a brief question and answer sessions after his speech and promised more to come in New Hampshire. Christie, who's hosted more than 100 town hall meetings in New Jersey, hasn't had one in the Garden State since the summer and his question and answer sessions with reporters back home have been just as scant.

But Christie suggested he's looking forward to taking questions again from residents living well north of his state.

"I've done 127 town hall meetings since I've been governor of New Jersey. I know I have to get back home, but this is really enlightening, so I hope when I come back that we're going to get more questions and more time to have conversation of the back and forth," Christie said.

"The more I come back, the less speech you're going to get and the more time you're going to get to ask me questions and challenge me," he said.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.