Christie cancels Committee of 70 appearance

Due to an illness, Gov. Christie canceled his appearance Thursday at a fund-raising breakfast in Center City for the Committee of Seventy, the watchdog group said Wednesday night.

Christie's staff told the group he was not feeling well, said Zack Stalberg, the nonpartisan group's president and chief executive officer.

"The governor is fighting off a cold and has had to cut back his morning schedule," said Colin Reed, a spokesman for Christie.

Stalberg said the timing was unfortunate.

"He's about as hot as you can get right now," Stalberg said about Christie, alluding to speculation about the Republican's running for president in 2016.

"Obviously, we are very sorry for any inconvenience that results from this cancellation and we hope Gov. Christie is better soon," Stalberg said.

More than 600 people were expected to attend the 8 a.m. breakfast, which will be rescheduled. The food for the breakfast will be donated to people in need, the group said.

Stalberg said he hoped Christie would be available for the rescheduled breakfast. Thursday's appearance would have been Christie's second before the group.

"He clearly enjoyed it the last time around," Stalberg said of Christie's 2010 appearance at the group's annual fund-raiser.

His office earlier said Christie would appear at Newark Liberty International Airport for an announcement at 11:30 a.m. There had been no announced cancellation of that event as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.

- Robert Moran