BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday night he's "disappointed" presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump didn't choose him as his running mate.

But Christie expressed zero resentment about being passed over for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

"Of course you're disappointed," he said at the New Jersey delegation's hotel on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. "I mean, you know, I don't ever get into anything that I don't want to win, and so when you're not picked, of course you're disappointed."

"It didn't happen," he added. "That's fine."

Christie praised Trump's decision to tap Pence as his running mate. Trump nearly selected Christie as his second-in-command.

"It's just the way it goes," Christie said.

After dropping his own presidential bid in February, the governor was one of the first mainstream Republicans to back Trump. He also leads Trump's transition team.

Trump heard "a last-ditch appeal" from Christie on Thursday as news broke that Pence was poised to win the position, according to a separate report by the New York Times.

Trump was leaning toward Christie as late as Tuesday, according to the CNN report, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the events.

But, the report said, advisers told Trump that Pence would do more to strengthen the campaign and unify the Republican Party, according to the report.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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