Amid 2012 rumors, Christie schedules afternoon news conference

Amid speculation about a possible presidential run, Chris Christie has scheduled a 1 p.m. ET news conference at the New Jersey State House in Trenton.

A Christie spokeswoman declined to comment on the purpose of the New Jersey governor's last minute press availability but it comes just a day after Christie supporters were told he'd make an announcement within 48 hours about a possible 2012 bid.

The decision to hold a news conference outside his office strongly suggests Christie has decided to stick with his decision not to seek the Republican presidential nomination. (National Review and ABC News, citing sources, say the governor won't run.)

In a high-profile appearance at the Ronald Reagan Library last week, Christie suggested—as he has for several months—that he just doesn't feel called to seek the White House. But the governor, who is well known for his bluntness, did not offer a definitive "no" on the race. His uncharacteristic manner has since fueled non-stop speculation among reporters and Republicans still looking for a strong contender in the GOP primary that he might yet change his mind about 2012.

Christie's news conference comes as the Wall Street Journal reports the governor promised Meg Whitman, the former eBay chief who was recently tapped to run Hewlett-Packard, he wouldn't run for president. The exchange reportedly was a "condition" of Whitman's decision to hold a fundraiser last week for Christie since she is already backing Mitt Romney in the race.

But Whitman isn't the only person Christie told he wasn't running for president. As The Ticket reported last week, the governor bluntly declared to other attendees at the fundraiser Whitman organized for him that he wasn't running for president. His remarks came just hours ahead of his speech at the Reagan Library, where he wasn't nearly as definitive.