Ahead of upcoming contests in Iowa and New Hampshire next month, there have been a number of presidential candidates in the city this week. Thursday, it was Chris Christie. Josh Robin filed the following report.
Appearing before a pro-Israel crowd, Chris Christie didn't disappoint with the red meat.
"They're our single most important ally," Christie said.
It's an ally he says President Barack Obama neglected, saying the Democrat treated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worse than even a "thug" like Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
And so Christie says he would invite Netanyahu to Camp David, with an evening just for Netanyahu to vent.
Christie: About what it's been like for the last number of years.
Shmuley Boteach, moderator: And you know that Jews know how to vent.
Christie: I do.
Boteach: Going to be a long weekend.
Syria registered more nuance, to an extent. Warning of terrorism, Christie says the U.S. shouldn't accept any refugees, and that goes even for orphans under the age of 5.
Is he conflicted?
"Of course I'm conflicted," he said. "But I'm a leader. I have an obligation to resolve the conflict, and I resolve the conflict in favor of putting the lives of the safety of the American people first because that's my job."
2016 presidential politics also came up, with Christie offering sharp words for a Republican rival, Marco Rubio, and the Democratic frontrunner Hillary clinton.
"I think it, unfortunately, Secretary Clinton spent too much time around President Obama," Christie said. "She sees the world as she wishes it was. I see the world as it is."
And if Clinton faced Rubio in the general election?
"I think she'd pat him on the head and then cut his heart out," Christie said.
Finally, given his administration's scandal involving a certain bridge, we wondered how exactly Christie got to and from the Upper West Side if it involves crossing the Hudson. But the governor hustled out without taking questions from anyone but the moderator.