New Jersey Governor Christie Continues To Argue Same Sex Marriage Issue Should Be Decided By Voters; “I Will Not Compromise My Principles”

Leading up to his veto of a same sex marriage bill passed by his state legislature, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie explained his decision to CNN's Piers Morgan, and said that although he is an opponent of same sex marriage, he favours putting the policy to the people. "I know this is a very emotional issue and a very divisive issue in my state," Christie said in an interview to air on Piers Morgan Tonight Tuesday. "The only way we have to amend our constitution in New Jersey - which is by referendum - let's put it on the ballot and let's let the people decide. And if the people in New Jersey, as some of the same sex marriage advocates suggest the polls indicate are in favour of it, then my position would not be the winning position but I'm willing to take that risk because I trust the people of the state," he continued in the interview. The governor who was pressured by some conservatives to enter the GOP presidential field said that his personal position is guided by his Catholic faith and that he won't "compromise my principles for politics." He said his position should be no surprise to voters. "Now that the legislature has passed that piece of legislation, then I will veto it because that's what I promised to do and that's what I think is the right thing to do," he said. A proponent of civil unions rather than same sex marriages, Christie said he separates his personal beliefs from his politics, and from his view that voters ought to decide this issue at the polls. Christie adamantly and consistently said he would not enter the presidential race, and endorsed Mitt Romney in October 2011.