( CNN ) -- Chris Christie got to the point immediately . The embattled New Jersey governor , who 's seriously considering a 2016 run for the White House , began his State of the State address on Tuesday by pledging to cooperate with multiple investigations into controversies that are threatening to complicate his political future . Opinion : We need the full truth from Chris Christie . He did n't specifically mention suggestions that top aides orchestrated traffic gridlock near the country 's busiest bridge last year in an alleged case of political payback , but noted that `` mistakes were clearly made . '' His usual swagger gone , Christie continued : `` And as a result , we let down the people we are entrusted to serve . I know our citizens deserve better . Much better . I am the governor and I am ultimately responsible for all that happens on my watch - both good and bad . '' Christie : 'Mistakes were clearly made ' A Republican in a state dominated by Democrats , Christie then moved on . He used the rest of the 45-minute address before state legislators in Trenton to push his legislative agenda and tout his accomplishments . He threaded through his entire speech pitches for his bipartisan efforts , making a plea for those efforts to continue . So , how 'd he do ? Addressing the controversy early was the right move , experts and analysts said . NJ Democrat lawmaker on traffic scandal : ' I do think laws have been broken ' CNN Chief National Correspondent John King : `` He did exactly what he needed to do by getting to it first . His trademark is being blunt and direct . His brand , his trademark , is damaged right now . He 's trying to get the tarnish off it . This was a first page in the next chapter of Chris Christie . We do n't know where that chapter is going . '' CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger : `` He got it out of the way early , he said what he needed to say . '' But Borger also said she believes `` a line of argument against Chris Christie has been established with the public . That he is petty , that his administration was vengeful . If he wants to reverse that narrative , he does have to get something done in a bipartisan way and he has to get this story over with and it does n't look like it 's going to end any time soon . '' Borger also observed Christie 's turn-of-phrase . `` He said that 'mistakes were made , ' not that he made the mistakes . '' Borger added that Democrats in New Jersey `` now believe they have an opening ( against Christie ) and they 're going right through it . '' CNN Political Analyst John Avlon : `` He needed to address the elephant in the room right off the top , and he did . He was contrite -- mistakes were made . Pay careful attention to the word 'appropriate ' -- he 'll cooperate with all 'appropriate ' inquiries . I do n't think he 's going to try to turn over private e-mails . '' CNN Political Analyst Ana Navarro : `` I think it was very smart of him to address it right off the bat . He knew all of us were watching those first few minutes . Then he could go on to talk about filling potholes in New Jersey . But he captured our attention with those first few sentences . '' But also in those first few sentences was a phrase that surprised CNN Political Commentator Ryan Lizza : `` Mistakes were made . '' `` Every politician , every pundit knows that that is a phrase , at the very least , from the Iran-Contra scandal , and it 's basically been mocked as this passive voice and way of pretending to take responsibility for something when you 're not , '' Lizza said . Feds investigate Christie 's use of Sandy relief funds . CNN Chief National Correspondent Jake Tapper and CNN 's Halimah Abdullah contributed to this report .
N.J. Gov . Chris Christie 's State of the State address garnered national attention . Christie tackled head-on a controversy that suggests political payback by aides . John King : `` He did exactly what he needed to do by getting to it first , and then going on to talk about his plans for New Jersey's economy. Christie used phrase associated with past scandal that has been mocked .