Russ Zimmer, and Bob Jordan

Asbury Park Press

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie says he’s not going anywhere.

Especially not rejoining Donald Trump on the campaign trail – at least not anytime soon.

"I am here. I am back to work," Christie told reporters Thursday, pushing back against calls for him to resign, insisting he is doing the business of the people of New Jersey, and asserting that he is a supporter, but no full-time surrogate, of Trump’s bid for the presidency.

Editorial: Step down, Gov. Chrisite

He also lashed out at the Gannett-owned Asbury Park Press and its five sister newspapers – as well as the Star Ledger – for editorials saying Christie should quit because he’s doing a poor job, spending too much time outside New Jersey, and putting his narrow political interests ahead of New Jersey's.

YOUR TURN: What do you think about Christie's press conference and everything he had to say? 'Like' us on Facebook and tell us in the comments.

"I've been out of the presidential race for 22 days and I've been here for 19 days and I've been working," Christie said during a nearly two-hour news conference. Just days earlier, during a press conference to announce the renomination of David F. Bauman to the state Supreme Court, Christie repeatedly refused to answer "off-topic" questions about Trump, his endorsement, or anything else.

"I am not shocked that the Star-Ledger editorial page or the Gannett editorial page — none of which has ever supported ... my existence, would call on me to resign. They’re looking for some way to be relevant as their circulation declines, as their readership declines, and the only way to do that is to set themselves on fire," he said.

The Press editorial board endorsed both of Christie's gubernatorial runs.

Christie made numerous political trips outside New Jersey in 2014 and 2015, first in his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, then for his own presidential campaign. Christie spent 261 days full or partial days outside New Jersey last year.

His White House bid ended Feb. 10, but he hit the campaign trail again last week, showing up in Texas to make his surprise endorsement Friday of Trump. He stood behind Trump once again following the developer's seven-victory showing on Super Tuesday — prompting questions about when Christie would return to work in New Jersey.

In his wide-ranging press conference, Christie sought to allay concerns that he had abandoned his duties as governor, amid a growing chorus of calls, including from state Republican lawmakers, that he chose between the campaign trail for Trump and running New Jersey.

His remarks came the same day GOP national figures, most notably former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, took dead aim at Trump's candidacy, calling it harmful to civil society, democracy, and the Republican Party.

Christie told reporters he is a friend of Romney's but that they disagree on Trump's candidacy. Christie said time and again that "I don't care" who shares his views on the subject.

What do New Jerseyans think?

Word along the coffee shops and businesses of Red Bank was far from unified Thursday. A few voters echoed calls for Christie's resignation; most agreed it was time for Christie to focus on home.

"He's endorsed (Trump), he should come home to New Jersey and finish up," said Bill Kosoff, a Republican from Union Beach, who supports Trump. "I think New Jersey seems to be running well, I don’t see the point in him resigning."

"He's elected to do a job, he's paid to do a job," said Emma Melvin, a Democrat from Palmyra. "He should start doing his job."

Christie’s second term ends January 2018. If he leaves office early, it’ll likely be his call to make. New Jersey has a provision for recall elections, but angry residents are faced with a high hurdle.

Petitions demanding a recall election have to be signed by 25 percent of the state’s registered voters.

There are currently 5,451,816 registered voters, so 1,362,954 valid signatures are required.

That’s a tough threshold to meet: Only about 830,000 people voted against Christie in the 2013 gubernatorial election.

WATCH:Chorus grows for Christie to serve NJ or quit

EDITORIAL: Governor: I'm not going anywhere

At the news conference, Christie addressed his controversial step into the Trump camp and defended the billionaire developer on a number of topics, included Trump’s waffle on whether he disavows support from hate groups.

WATCH: Trump fires back at Romney attack

Christie said that he wasn't one to stand on the sidelines during the public debate surrounding the primary elections and that he sees Trump as the most viable Republican candidate and the best person to push back against the presumed Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

"I know who I wanted to be president of the United States, you're looking at him!" Christie said. "It didn't work out."

"If (Trump) had not been in the race I would've been the nominee," he added later.

As for his appearance at a Trump rally on Super Tuesday that sparked a social media storm — check out #ChristieFace — Christie said that the press was stirring the pot and that his expressions were not an indication that he "was being held hostage."

"I wasn't upset, I wasn't angry, I wasn't despondent," he said.

As for Trump’s inconsistent disavowals of support from former KKK leader David Duke, Christie said, "I know Donald Trump and he's not a bigot."

In an interview Sunday on CNN’s "State of the Union," Trump demurred when asked if he disavowed support from Duke and other white supremacist groups.

"Just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke, OK?" Trump said in response to host Jake Tapper.

Christie wrote that exchange off to Trump having a “bad interview.’’

“He’s disavowed a half-a-dozen times in the last week,’’ Christie said. “He’s disavowed since that Sunday ..."

“Everybody can have a bad interview,’’ he said.

A handful of Republican state lawmakers called on Christie to quit traveling with Trump or resign after the joint editorial from the Asbury Park Press and its sister newspapers was published.

Those critics included Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, who released a statement after the news conference saying she was satisfied with what Christie said.

“I am pleased that Gov. Christie reaffirmed his commitment to invest his time, energy and effort into the serious policy issues that New Jersey faces, and that his time will be spent here in our state,” Beck said.

Beck also said she’s not a fan of Trump, a reaction similar to what’s been coming from some of the Republican political leaders throughout the state.

Christie has encouraged GOP county leaders to endorse Trump but not all are falling into line. Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore told the Asbury Park Press he’s waiting to hear thoughts about Trump from his leadership caucus and there hasn’t been a decision on whether the organization will endorse anyone in the presidential race. Monmouth County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden has not responded to inquiries on his position.

Christie said he has no current plans to go back on the road for Trump, but "I'm sure I will at some point."

As for the recent trips he made on behalf of Trump – including a swing to Texas last Friday, where the surprise endorsement was announced – Christie said, “I went out on the road to announce and reinforce it and to emphasize it."

Christie’s move into the Trump tent puts him at odds with Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, who in a speech shortly before Christie’s news conference denounced Trump. "Here’s what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud," Romney said.

“He inherited his business. He didn't create it,” Romney said of Trump. “And what ever happened to Trump Airlines? How about Trump University? And then there's Trump Magazine and Trump Vodka and Trump Steaks and Trump Mortgage? A business genius he is not.”

Christie frequently took to the road to campaign for Romney four years ago. He said Romney’s stance against Trump wouldn’t hurt their relationship.

“Mitt Romney's a very good friend of mine," Christie said. "We have a political disagreement."

Christie said he will be traveling next week. But not for Trump.

He said he’s taking a few days off to celebrate his 30th anniversary with his wife, Mary Pat.

MORE:Recall of Chris Christie from office a longshot

Karen Yi and Erik Larsen contributed.

Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com