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Local outlets barred from Christie press meeting

Gov. Chris Christie is making one thing very clear on Tuesday: He's ready for a bigger pond than New Jersey.

Christie did not invite New Jersey press to an off-the-record meeting just hours ahead of his annual speech, several local reporters tweeted on Tuesday. But he did invite outlets such as ABC, NBC, CNN, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press, according to WNYC reporter Matt Katz.

“When is a State of the State address about more than the ‘State’? When in-STATE reporters are ditched for a national press only briefing,” tweeted Luke Margolis, a State House reporter for News 12 New Jersey.

CNN's Dana Bash and NBC's Kelly O'Donnell were among those spotted entering the meeting, according to sources present. Local reporters were not told about the meeting and said they have yet to receive an explanation as to why they were barred.

It's also the first time that the governor's office requested that media RSVP for the speech. New Jersey Assembly Democratic spokesperson Tom Hester Jr. told reporters last week that the RSVP is not actually required, according to The Star-Ledger

"If you want to RSVP with the governor's office, that's up to you, but I want to make clear that an RSVP is not required for reporters to attend events in the Assembly chamber,” he wrote in a blast email to reporters. “Be mindful that space always becomes limited, but an RSVP is not required.”

In the speech Tuesday, Christie talked about national-level themes, including the need for an “American renewal” while mentioning trips to Illinois, Maryland, Kansas, Colorado, Maine, Arkansas and Florida. The speech could be Christie’s last big address before he announces plans for a likely 2016 presidential campaign.

We’ve reached out to the governor’s office and will update here accordingly.

Hadas Gold is a reporter at Politico.