New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) says that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has “embarrassed” the Republican Party, but former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney never has.

Following Romney’s devastating loss to Gingrich in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, Christie told NBC’s David Gregory that the former speaker just didn’t have the experience needed to be president.

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“I think Newt Gingrich has embarrassed the party over time,” Christie explained. “Whether he’ll do it again in the future, I don’t know. But Gov. Romney never has.”

“We all know the record,” the New Jersey governor continued. “He was run out of the speakership by his own party. He was fined $300,000 for ethic violations. This is a guy who’s had a very difficult political career at times and has been an embarrassment to the party.”

“But do you think a candidate, a nominee Gingrich, could also beat President [Barack] Obama?” Gregory asked.

“Sure,” Christie replied.

Watch this video from NBC’s Meet the Press, broadcast Jan. 22, 2012.