UPDATE 1-NJ Gov Christie Hospitalized with Breathing Trouble

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has frequently been mentioned as a possible Republican presidential candidate, was taken to the hospital Thursday after having "difficulty breathing," his spokesman said.

Christie, 48, who is heavily overweight and has asthma, was given "routine tests as a precautionary measure," spokesman Michael Drewniak said in a statement.

"Governor Christie was having difficulty breathing this morning and out of an abundance of caution he went to Somerset Medical Center to be checked out," Drewniak said.

The Republican governor has said repeatedly that he is not running for the White House. Earlier this month former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said Christie said was on his short-list for vice president if Romney wins the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

Christie has been a rising Republican star since taking office last year with a low-tax, lean-government agenda, and erasing a record $11 billion budget deficit while limiting annual increases in the state's high property taxes.

He has publicly acknowledged struggling with his weight. He frequently jokes about it, and once told radio host Don Imus in mock exaggeration that he weighed 550 pounds.

(Reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Jackie Frank)