South Carolina Legislators Urge Christie to Seek GOP Nomination

Some Republican South Carolina state legislators are calling on Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., to run for president. (Fox News Photo)

COLUMBIA, SC -- Ten conservative legislators from the first-in-the-south primary state of South Carolina met in the lobby of the Statehouse Wednesday to call for New Jersey's Republican Governor Gov. Chris Christie to run for president.

Leading the conference was Rep. Kris Crawford, R-Florence, who claims that Republicans are not entirely satisfied with the GOP's current candidates.

"America needs a president who is fearless in the face of the special interests who want to live off the backs of taxpayers," said Crawford. "Only by nominating a candidate who is hard-hitting and willing to speak the truth, no matter the political pressure from the left, can we get America out of the mess the Democrats have gotten us in."

The group of South Carolina Republicans believe Christie would be the best presidential candidate because by becoming governor of New Jersey, he already proved he can win a heavily Democratic area.

"We need somebody to take on the Obama machine," Rep. Phyllis Henderson, R- Greenville, said. "Despite President Obama's obvious political failings, it will still require a Republican nominee as strong as Gov. Christie to go head-to-head with the liberal agenda in order to win in November."

Christie, who took office as Governor of New Jersey in 2010, has repeatedly said he will not run for president in 2012.

"Short of suicide, I don't really know what I'd have to do to convince you people that I'm not running," Christie said on CNN Tuesday night.

That has not stopped South Carolina lawmakers from trying to change his mind.

"I hear what he's saying, but I'm watching what he's doing," Rep. Crawford told Foxnews.com. "He's clearly looking for national exposure. All he has said is ‘No, no, no.' All we are asking him to do is sit down and talk about it."

The Republican candidates who have officially entered the race for the GOP nomination are Gary Johnson, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and Mitt Romney.