New Jersey governor and potential presidential candidate Chris Christie was hospitalized Thursday, after complaining of shortness of breath.

Although Christie has publicly stated he is not running for president in 2012, Republican activists have been trying to persuade the outspoken fiscal conservative to get in the race.

Christie, 48, has long struggled with his weight and suffers from asthma.

A Christie spokesperson said that the governor was driven to the Somerset Medical Center in New Jersey Thursday morning out of "an abundance of caution."

He remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon, although his chief of staff told the Associated Press that Christie was "fine" and that he was handling his gubernatorial duties from his hospital room.

 

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