Eye On Politics: Rep. Peter King Was Not Looking For Presidential Run
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - As reported yesterday, Long Island Republican Rep. Peter King is seriously considering a run for president in 2016 after being approached by various people.
In Friday's Eye on Politics segment, King told WCBS 880's Steve Scott, "This is not something I was looking for. It came to me and I want to look at it carefully."
On why he is considering a run, he cited a lack of viable Republican candidates.
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Eye on Politics: Peter King
"Right now, unfortunately, the national Republicans who are talking about running for president I believe do not have a strong foreign policy," King said. "We have people like [Sen.] Rand Paul, who is more concerned, it appears, about the CIA attacking Americans with drones than he is about Islamic terrorism. And also the national Republicans have really lost their connection to working people."
He cited President Ronald Reagan's connections with union workers.
What about Gov. Chris Christie's possible run for the White House?
"As far as Chris Christie, I have a great regard for Gov. Christie. I actually, three years ago, went to Trenton and urged him to run for president in 2012. So, I have again, a great regard for him. He has not announced. I don't know what his views are on foreign policy. But I'm not in this to be any kind of a threat to Gov. Christie. Obviously, if he does decide to run, he and I can speak at that time," King said. "But Gov. Christie is not really the kind of person I'm concerned about. I'm more concerned about people like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz."
What about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio?
"I think he's got a lot of talent, a lot of ability. I've met him several times, but I have a real antagonism because of the fact that, coming from Florida - which got billions and billions of dollars during their hurricane and storm disasters, he voted against aid coming to New York and New Jersey," King said. "I just think, to me, that's a hard thing to forget and forgive."
As for who wants him to run, he said he has heard from constituents and national Republican figures including former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey and former Rep. Barry Goldwater, Jr.
King said he would probably make a final decision on running by the end of this year or early next year.
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