lauren ashburn, what does it say did the state of campaign coverage that so many journalists are -- i'm not going to shy away from this -- panting for chris christie to run? >> we are a.d.d., that's all i can say. you know, everybody in the news business will admitted lie say we have attention deficit disorder. if somebody new pops on to the screen, my gosh, the cameras turn immediately to that person. we get bored with romney and perry and bachmann. we know their story! we get bored with people running for people. christie himself pointed to the political man the gentleman. we plied -- plan the gentleman. he played that where he said no way, i'll kill miemz first. the coverage is will he or won't be as opposed to his record as governor. >> in defense, it's picking up on where the republican party is. although the republican party has an adequate field and if you like the candidate that chris christie would be, you've got a candidate in mitt romney. the problem that journals are picking subpoena that republicans have this program which is mitt romney is the logical person to nominate. l

for more on this i'm joined by jonathan alter, a bloomberg view columnist and lauren ashburn, former managing editor at "usa today" and now a contributing editor at "the daily beast." lawrenc -- lauren, you go first. what reaction do you have for governor christie saying it's okay for the comedians, but the pundits, they got it all wrong >> i think he needs to re-examine what he's saying and i'm going to be one of those ignorant pundits, i guess, but obesity is an extremely important issue in this country. you know, the cdc says that 75% of us are either overweight and obese, and for him to laugh this off at a press conference saying yes, i'm fat, sends a terrible message to society. i think leaders are held to a different standard, and, you know, i understand that he has struggled with his weight. i've been up and down with my weight. i've had three kids. i get it. i know how hard it is, but i just think it's a different standard when you're a governor of a state or running for president. >> does it necessarily follow that if -- if he's undisciplined in his diet, that he's undiscipli