Chris Christie on Ted Cruz Claim Most Criminals Are Democrats: 'I Have Not Noticed That'

— -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rebutted rival Sen. Ted Cruz’s claim that the majority of criminals are Democrats in an interview on “Good Morning America” today.

“I have not noticed that in my background and experience,” the Republican presidential candidate and former federal prosecutor told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “But it doesn’t really matter in the end George, some of this stuff that gets said George, what the American people are really worried about right now is the safety and security of their homes, of the homeland and that’s what I’m focusing on.”

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz attempted to make the case Tuesday that most violent criminals are Democrats in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, arguing that Democrats are soft on crime as a result.

"Now listen, here’s the simple and undeniable fact: The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats,” Cruz told Hewitt. “There’s a reason why the Democrats for years have been viewed as soft on crime, because they go in and they appoint to the bench judges who release violent criminals. They go in and fight to give the right to vote to convicted felons. Why? Because the Democrats know convicted felons tend to vote Democrat."

Christie, who served as a U.S. attorney after the 9/11 attacks, has made his national security credentials a central selling point in his campaign platform. In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Christie has argued that no refugees from Syria, including women and children, should be allowed into the United States right now, because he says they can’t be properly vetted.

Christie continues to maintain that even women and children pose a terrorist threat.

“We have seen women and children play roles in terrorist attacks before, you and I both know this,” Christie said. “And so the fact is we can all play to the U.N. crowd and say we want to get applause from those folks around the world; I’m worried about the homeland here.”

Asked about former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean’s criticism that his comments on the topic have been too harsh, Christie, 53, said, “He’s wrong.”

“I think he’s wrong, with all due respect to the governor,” Christie said. “My only question is this: ‘Why doesn’t the president listen to the FBI director? The FBI director said we can’t vet these people, not at the speed the president wants to bring them in.”

The Obama administration has said that any refugee allowed into the United States will undergo stringent vetting.