WASHINGTON – Chris Christie's political advisers are working to determine whether they could move fast enough to set up effective political operations in Iowa and New Hampshire in the wake of a relentless courtship aimed at persuading Christie, the governor of New Jersey, to plunge into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, according to operatives briefed on the preparations.

Christie has not yet decided whether to run and has not authorized the start of a full-fledged campaign operation. But with the governor now seriously considering getting in, his strategists – many of them veterans of Rudy Giuliani's 2008 campaign – are assessing the financial and logistical challenges of mounting a race with less than 100 days until voting is likely to begin.

Those challenges include not only raising money, but also spending it effectively in the crucial states with early primaries.

That would mean meeting filing deadlines, hiring staff members, recruiting volunteers, putting together a travel schedule, and devising a media campaign.

"They're getting their arms around what's going to be required," said a political operative who has been briefed on the deliberations among Christie's team. "What does an operation look like? What are the requirements in each of the states? What are the things that need to be done, before we talk about people and résumés and office space?"

Christie's advisers said Saturday that no formal planning for a campaign would begin unless the governor made a decision to run. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said current efforts are nothing more than "due diligence" should Christie decide to make a bid. One senior adviser said no campaign is under way but expressed confidence that one could be started in 24 hours.

The high-level advisers also said the flurry of political activity around Christie includes unsolicited strategic advice and offers of help from potential donors and consultants eager to see him run but not part of his inner circle.

Friends say that only Christie can decide what is right for him.

"This is a very smart guy who can figure this out for himself, and I think that's all that needs to be said," said William Palatucci, a close confidant of Christie who played down any immediate campaign planning.

Christie has become particularly popular among establishment Republicans and major party donors who are seeking a candidate who could be a more exciting alternative – and one with potentially broader appeal – than one of the current perceived front-runners, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. The push to recruit him intensified after Gov. Rick Perry of Texas – who had also been seen as a promising alternative – received poor debate performance reviews.

A hastily organized campaign would upend what two of Christie's advisers said was his original plan: to consider running for president in 2016. But with President Barack Obama looking more vulnerable, and with dissatisfaction among some voters and influential party leaders with the current Republican field, Christie is said by those close to him to feel that his best opportunity to run might be now.

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