New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been strangely quiet on some of the U.S.' more divisive national issues in a cautious move that avoids alienating and losing the support of Republican voters, according to the Associated Press.

The usually outspoken chairman of the Republican Governors Association has reportedly been side-stepping questions and declining to comment on issues such as the immigration reform, Israel and the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court ruling.

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In Nashville, Tennessee, the New Jersey governor spoke of the immigration reform and the Democratic opposition but only provided general opinions and when asked to elaborate, tersely declined to do so.

When asked about the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, he shrugged and said, "Who knows?"

He told media that his opinion would not matter since the decision had already been made. And when pressed for an answer, Christie told reporters that it was something that he was just not "that concerned about."

He also dodged questions on the Israel conflict and whether the U.S. military should be involved, saying that he was not in a position to give an opinion since he was not the president.

Christie has a difficult path ahead of him if he intends to run for president.

As a moderate conservative in a deeply conservative Republican voter base, observers note that this may explain why he remains close-lipped on such issues like abortion and contraception.

South Carolina Republican operative Chip Felkel praised Christie for his strategy.

He said that it's a wise move to hold off and buy his time weighing on divisive issues, in contrast to a number of politicians who have rashly given their two cents on such matters, but ended up with their foot in their mouth and regretting it.

David Redlawsk, Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling director, said Christie may be avoiding addressing these issues until he has to.

The time for that, observers say, will presumably be at a presidential debate where these issues are central and relevant.

TagsChris Christie, Republican, Democrat, US Politics, Presidential candidate, US Presidential Election, New Jersey governor, Republican Governors Association, Presidential debate