Over the past several years New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has become known as an outspoken and brash leader who's not afraid to offer up an opinion on any subject, but in recent weeks he's become uncharacteristically quiet and reserved.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie relinquishes his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association last week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie relinquishes his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association last week. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
loading...

"For someone interested in running for a national office it's a liability to have an opinion ready on absolutely everything, having an opinion on everything comes back to haunt you," said Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor Dr. Peter Woolley.

He pointed out clever and well-informed people may want to speak up, but there's a lot of virtue in being tight-lipped when you're involved in a campaign.

"There are a lot of voters out there, you don't know who you're going to offend, and whenever you're a Presidential candidate, absolutely everything you say is on the record," Woolley said.

So far, Christie has not said whether he'll seek the GOP nomination for president, but many believe the announcement could come early next year.

"Christie understands people don't want a president who's out of control," Woolley said. "You know they want somebody who's smart and they want somebody who's basically like them,  but they don't want somebody who can't control himself. Christie has a bit of an image problem, and has to present himself as more presidential."

Woolley said a lot of people find it attractive when Christie makes an angry remark, because we all lose our temper and we all wish we could say what's on our mind, but as a persistent behavior for a presidential candidate, this would become a liability.

"During his recent trip to Canada, we saw a more presidential Chris Christie," he said. "One who was very careful to be gracious, which everyone knows he can be, and one who was unfailingly polite to everyone he met. Look for more of that in the future."

More From 92.7 WOBM