Mexican schoolchildren embrace Christie

PUEBLA, Mexico - Excited shrieks went up as Gov. Christie arrived Friday at a school sports field, where more than 2,000 children helped offer a pull-out-the-stops welcome on the last leg of a three-day trade mission to Mexico.

"Pretty amazing," Christie said after students performed for him and the governor of Puebla. Entertainment included a skit about Mexican history, a traditional dance, and a marching band that featured sombreros and American pop songs. New Jersey was spelled out on the field, along with Puebla.

Christie traveled by helicopter from Mexico City to visit Puebla, a state he selected because of its ties to New Jersey: 40 percent of the Garden State's Mexican American residents have Puebla roots.

Leading up to the school visit, nearly all of Christie's trip, billed as a mission to form stronger economic ties with Mexico, had involved formal meetings with political and business leaders.

On Friday, he was in a more familiar element: working a crowd. As giddy schoolchildren in navy uniforms waved Mexico and New Jersey flags, Christie shook hands with kindergarten-age children and tossed out greetings of "Hola. ¿Como esta?"

Walking up the stairs into the bleachers, Christie reached over railings to keep on shaking children's hands. He took a seat on the upper level next to Puebla's governor, Rafael Moreno Valle, but soon got to his feet again to wave when his name was announced.

The New Jersey governor, who is considering running for president in 2016, basked in the reception as he praised Moreno Valle. "They like me because they love him," Christie said.

The rally-like atmosphere at the sports field felt something like a campaign stop. Asked by a reporter earlier in the day about elements of his trip stirring associations with a campaign - a whirlwind schedule, helicopter rides, a motorcade - Christie joked, "I want to assure [Moreno Valle] that I'm not running for anything in Mexico."

"Campaigning here would be kind of foolish," Christie said.

Landing Friday morning near the governor's residence in Puebla, Christie was greeted by Moreno Valle. The two talked as they walked through the complex; at one point, Christie mentioned Hurricane Sandy.

At a breakfast meeting in Moreno Valle's residence that included members of a state delegation who accompanied Christie on the trip, Christie said he and the Puebla governor had discovered similarities in their governing style. The two discussed a visit by Moreno Valle to New Jersey.

"I respect what the governor is doing here, in providing really strong, able leadership," Christie said.

Later, Christie and Moreno Valle said they had discussed ideas for partnerships between their two states, including having teachers from Puebla study at Rutgers University and learn English.

"I am very encouraged by the commitment Gov. Christie has shown to working together," Moreno Valle said.

He also said he was pleased by Christie's decision to sign a law letting undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition rates at New Jersey colleges.

At one point, a Mexican reporter asked Christie about the influx in unaccompanied children crossing the Mexican border into the United States.

Christie, who a day earlier said he would not articulate a position on immigration until "if and when" he runs for president, addressed the question in a similar manner.

"We're a compassionate people. And we do not want any harm to come to these children," Christie said. "We also are a people that are a law-abiding people," who want to ensure "the process is respected."

He said he hoped the federal government would give more information to states about where it is placing children.

Of New Jersey's residents with Puebla roots, Christie said, "We care deeply about making sure we protect the human rights of all the residents in our state."