He cautions against underestimating the Democratic president’s political savvy. Christie: Obama will be tough to beat

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says it’ll be tough for the Republican nominee to unseat President Barack Obama in 2012.

The Republican says it’s possible for his party to take the White House next year - especially if unemployment remains high. But he cautioned against underestimating the Democratic president’s political savvy.


"Anyone who underestimates the president underestimates at their own peril," Christie said, according to the Star-Ledger of Newark. "[Democrats] know how to campaign, they know politics. ... People who believe he's a shoo-in loser are wrong."

Christie was asked to handicap the contest Monday during an interview on Facebook that was streamed live from the social networking site’s headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif.

Christie has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Christie himself decided not to seek the nomination despite urgings from wealthy GOP donors.

The governor says he’ll campaign for Romney, but he expects Obama to be a formidable and well-financed opponent.