The Note: Chris Christie Takes on The Donald

— -- NOTABLES

--CHRIS CHRISTIE SAYS TRUMP'S CLAIMS THAT 'THOUSANDS' CHEERED IN NJ ON 9/11 'DIDN'T HAPPEN': New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie adamantly refuted Donald Trump's claims that "thousands" of people cheered in New Jersey after the 9/11 attacks -- saying Monday that it "didn't happen." The remarks came after Christie was criticized last week for not strongly condemning Trump's claims, ABC's JORDYN PHELPS notes. "It didn't happen and the fact is, people can say anything, but the facts are the facts, and that didn't happen in New Jersey that day and hasn't happened since," Christie told reporters yesterday at a campaign stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Last week, Christie said he didn't recall any Muslims celebrating in New Jersey, but did not deny Trump's statements outright. "I do not remember that," Christie said at the time. "It's not something that's part of my recollection. I think if it had happened, I would remember it, but there could be things I forget too, but I don't remember that." http://abcn.ws/1QQpjR8

--TRUMP'S RESPONSE TO CHRISTIE: Following a meeting Monday at Trump Tower with several African American church pastors, Trump told ABC News' Tom Llamas that Christie should be "careful with what he says." "He didn't say that the other day. He was very weak the other day," Trump said Monday in response to Christie's comments. "He said it like, well, he doesn't know. And now I guess he feels a little bit emboldened. He must be careful with what he says." http://abcn.ws/1QQpjR8

--CHRISTIE ON TRUMP'S KOVALESKI MOCKING: In an interview with CNN, the NJ governor calls Donald Trump out another issue: His alleged mocking of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski. "He shouldn't be making fun of people's disabilities. It's just not worthy of someone running for president of the United States," Christie told CNN. Trump has denied mocking Kovaleski and said that he would never mock someone with a disability. On CNN today, Christie said that it appeared that Trump knew he was mocking Kovaleski, ABC's JORDYN PHELPS notes. "It appears that way. But you know, he's got to answer for himself. I think part of the folly of all of this is that we're answering for him," Christie said.

--ANALYSIS -- ABC's RICK KLEIN: The Donald Trump show continues, of course. But the GOP race has gotten textured and nuanced just below the blustery surface. Signs of Ben Carson fading have opened up Iowa, with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio (and their super PACs) sparring almost hourly. New Hampshire has breathed new life into Chris Christie's campaign, with the state shaping up as critical for Jeb Bush and John Kasich as well. As for Trump...the frontrunner usually provides the focal point for a campaign, with rivals circling and trying to pounce where they see their chances. That diagram doesn't really work in this campaign, unless you imagine the focal point spewing out ink at its rivals as it spins at the center of the self-designed map. If the current frontrunner's strength is as hardy as it appears to be, the other candidates will be in the position of picking up pieces for a while -- and need to hope they're around by the time the field shrinks. From their perspective, though, it's becoming easier to envision a post-Trump GOP race, despite Trump's polling strength.

THE BUZZ

with ABC's PAOLA CHAVEZ