Republican candidate Chris Christie offers apologies after being booted from Amtrak quiet car

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie committed a faux pas on 25 October as he travelled from Washington DC to New York. The New Jersey governor was booted from the quiet car on his Amtrak Acela train after he was heard having a loud phone conversation.

Fellow passenger Alexander Mann, who witnessed Christie yell at his New Jersey State Police detail, told Gawker:

He got on last minute yelling at his two secret service agents I think because of a seat mixup, sat down and immediately started making phone calls on the quiet car. After about 10 minutes the conductor asked him to stop or go to another car. He got up and walked out again yelling at his secret service. He was drinking a McDonald's strawberry smoothie.

Mann also told Gawker that Christie also had a very animated phone conversation, which included the phrases, "this is frickin' ridiculous" and "seriously?! seriously?" Christie's campaign was quick to offer an apology for breaking the "cardinal rule of the quiet car," NJ.com reported.

"On a very full train this morning, the governor accidentally took a seat in Amtrak's notorious quiet car," campaign spokeswoman Samantha Smith said. "After breaking the cardinal rule of the quiet car, the governor promptly left once he realized the serious nature of his mistake and enjoyed the rest of his time on the train from the cafe car. Sincere apologies to all the patrons of the quiet car that were offended."

According to The Associated Press, Amtrak urges passengers sitting in the quiet car to maintain a "library-like atmosphere", with conductors commonly asking noisy passengers to switch cars. The GOP candidate was in DC for an early appearance on CBS's Face the Nation. The latest election poll released by ABC/Washington Post revealed Christie is polling at 3% among his fellow Republican candidates.