And he's not sorry. At all.
The Republican governor called the criticism of his family trip to Disney World during the week of a crippling blizzard "carping and
craziness."
"I made a promise to my children that at the end of my first year of governor that I was going to take them to Disney World," Christie said at a press conference on Friday.
"My first and most important responsibility, in my view, is as a husband and a father, and I think I made that pretty clear to the people of New Jersey when I was running [for New Jersey governor]," he added.
When the storm hit Christie's Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno was in Mexico with her sick father, leaving Senate President Stephen Sweeney -- a Democrat -- in charge.
Christie left for vacation on Sunday -- the same day Sweeney declared a state of emergency in New Jersey -- with his wife and four children. He returned on Friday.
The governor called the allegations that he "abandoned" the state partisan politics, and insisted that he was in constant contact with state officials during the storm.
Christie said because he flew on a commercial plane, it probably would have been impossible for him to return to the Garden State earlier. He added his flight on Friday morning was delayed, the Star-Ledger reported.
"I wouldn't change the decision even if I could do it right now," said Christie, whose name has been floated as a possible 2012 presidential contender. "I had a great five days with my children. I promised that."
