Christie speaks at an antiabortion rally

TRENTON - Gov. Christie, heralded as the "first pro-life governor in New Jersey history," addressed an antiabortion rally on the Statehouse steps Monday and vowed his support.

"You have today, and for the rest of my life, an ally," Christie told the activists, adding that antiabortion views need to be expressed "calmly" but with "no ambiguity in how we feel."

Christie's fiscal conservatism has become well-known nationally, but he has not been as vocal on social issues, such as abortion rights.

"Every life is precious, and a gift from God," said Christie, coatless on the coldest day so far this winter, before hundreds of children and adults.

The Republican governor, who at one time supported abortion rights - or, as he told the crowd, was "not always on your side" - retold the story of how he came to appreciate the life of an unborn child when he heard the heartbeat of his daughter, Sara, now 14, three months into his wife's pregnancy.

"It was at that moment that it became clear to me that that's a life that deserves protection," he said. "This is an issue whose time has come."

In a published report in 1996, Christie said he was "pro-choice" but opposed late-term abortions. On Monday, he invoked the Declaration of Independence in saying that all life deserved to be protected.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who favors abortion rights, was seen nearby minutes before the rally, but she did not attend the event.

The rally was among many in the country, including in Washington, to mark the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

In his remarks, Christie did not refer to any specific political initiatives related to his antiabortion beliefs, but he has drawn praise from some for cutting $7.5 million in state funding this year for 58 family-planning and women's health centers.

A bill to restore the funds stipulated that the money would not be used for abortion services, but Christie vetoed the legislation.

"There is nothing objectionable to the governor's personal stance against abortion, but his use of his office to promote an antichoice agenda is troubling," said State Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), who was among those who had pushed Christie to restore the funds to clinics.

"By aligning himself with the far right in this debate, he is leaving millions of New Jersey women by the wayside."