Barbara Bush phones Chris Christie 's wife to beg him to run for White House

As speculation brews about a possible Chris Christie bid for the White House, several big names are joining a chorus to persuade him. Among them is former First Lady Barbara Bush, who recently phoned the New Jersey governor 's wife Mary to convince her that the Christie family would be just fine in the White House despite the intense attention, a source told the New York Post. Mrs Bush joins political heavyweights like former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in asking that he give the presidency a shot. Despite insisting he won 't run, Governor Christie is making the most of the speculation, travelling the country this week raising money for Republicans, rubbing elbows with rainmakers and speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Gov Christie 's three-state tour is bringing him to Missouri, California and Louisiana – trips paid for by each state ' s GOP organization. It will also bring home a lot of money for the New Jersey state Republican Party, which will see proceeds from three fundraisers the governor is hosting. Talk of Christie entering the 2012 race for the White House ramped up this weekend, pushed in part by Texas Gov. Rick Perry 's shaky debate performance last week, as well as his loss in the Florida straw poll to Godfather's Pizza mogul Herman Cain on Saturday. While Christie 's advisers swatted down the notion that he was reconsidering over the weekend, former Gov. Tom Kean, a longtime Christie mentor and confidant, stirred the pot on Monday. (Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk …