Pushed today for specifics on what parts of the government he would cut if elected, Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie today said that “antiquated” civil services rules and collective bargaining make it impossible to specifically target cuts.

“I’d look to change that system. I don’t think you need to have civil service protections and collective bargaining,” said Christie in a morning radio interview with 101.5 fm’s Eric Scott.

Although he has not come up with a number by which he would slash state jobs (he has said that he wants to get rid of two-thirds of political patronage positions), Christie said that “it’s very specific to say that you’re going to reduce the size of government.”

Scott also asked Christie if he had any plans to bring Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in to campaign.  His campaign has already said that they have no plans to bring her in “at this time,” but Christie took it a step further, eliminating the possibility altogether.  

"I don't think having Governor Palin here would do me, or frankly the state, a whole lot of good in the sense that we need to talk and focus on what the New Jersey issues are” said Christie.  “I won’t be having Governor Palin here."

Christie said that he hopes to continue to have former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on the campaign trail because he can draw a relevant parallel between New Jersey’s condition today and New York City’s state in 1993 – the year Giuliani was first elected.  

“Hopefully Mayor Giuliani will continue to be supportive and work with me,” he said.  “Other than that, I think the people of New Jersey have to hear from me. I’m the person they’ll be electing.”

Scott, Millenium Radio's vice president for news, has been interviewing public figures all week while filling in for morning drive time host Jim Gearhart.  Scott mentioned twice on the show that Governor Corzine was invited to participate but the station, whose programming has been highly critical of him, “has not received even the courtesy of a response.”