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Romney didn't pick Dirty Christie TRENTON — Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney decided he could not pick Gov. Chris Christie as his running mate last year in part because the governor’s background was "littered with potential land mines," according to a new book.

The book — "Double Down: Game Change 2012" — also details the Obama campaign’s anger at then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker after he called the president’s attacks on Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital "nauseating" during an appearance on Meet the Press, according to reports today in The New York Times and the website Politico.

The book’s major revelation is that Obama’s top aides secretely considered replacing Vice President Joe Biden on the ticket with then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The book cites a memo from Romney’s vetting team looking into Christie’s background that included "unanswered questions on a defamation lawsuit against the governor from earlier in his political career, on a Securities and Exchange Commission settlement involving Mr. Christie’s brother, on names and documentation of his household help, on information from his time as a securities industry lobbyist, and on his medical history," according to the Times.

The newspaper said authors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann wrote that "the dossier on the Garden State governor’s background was littered with potential land mines."

When The Times asked for a response today, an aide to the governor arranged for Beth Myers, who oversaw Romney’s vice presidential search to issue a statement saying Christie "complied fully with the Romney campaign’s request for documents in a timely manner, including a complete medical report from his internist and cardiologist."

Micheal Drewniak, the governor’s spokesman, declined comment Thursday night.

Some of the concerns mentioned in the book have been documented. For instance, Christie’s brother, Todd, was implicated in a stock fraud investigation by the SEC.

The company eventually paid a fine and 15 traders were indicted — but not Todd Christie. Most of the traders were exonerated. Todd Christie, however, agreed to a settlement with the commission in which he acknowledged "inappropriate trading" but was not fined or censured.

The deal led some to charge during Christie’s 2009 campaign for governor that Todd Christie was given special treatment because of his brother’s status as U.S. Attorney — an allegation both Christies have denied.

Christie has both sued and been sued for defamation. In 1994, his GOP Morris County freeholder primary opponents sued Christie for claiming they were under investigation by the county prosecutor. The case was settled, and Christie issued a formal apology. Three years later, after he lost his primary for re-election as a freeholder, Christie sued his opponent, John Murphy. Details of the outcome was never disclosed.

And before becoming U.S. Attorney, Christie worked as a Trenton lobbyist — a job he has never highlighted. Among his clients was the Securities Industry Association.

Christie recently released a report from his doctor that said he "has no medical limitations and is fit to serve as the governor." Questions about his household help have never been publicly raised.

According to Politico, the book also says Booker, who was sworn in as U.S. Senator today, irritated the Obama campaign with his initial Bain Capital remarks on "Meet the Press," and that he made a video explaining his remarks — dubbed the "hostage video" — on his own accord.

Politico reported that "Obama’s campaign brass demanded an immediate apology. They asked Booker to issue a short statement walking his comments back. Instead of apologizing, Booker made a three-minute direct to camera video using his laptop. In it, he repeated much of what he said on the Sunday show in gentler words. The campaign was far from satisfied."

The book also noted Obama was irritated "that Booker was playing to his donor base — the Wall Street and private equity crowd," Politico said.

Calls and e-mails to a spokesman for Booker were not returned Thursday night.

The book is scheduled for release on Tuesday, Election Day, when New Jerseyans go to the polls to elect a governor. Christie is seeking re-election against Democrat Barbara Buono.
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/book_says_romney_did_not_pick_christie_partly_because_of_unanswered_questions.html