SPARTA -- Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Joe Piscopo said he hasn't given up on running for governor as an independent but will only get into the race if he believes he can win.
"I don't want to be a spoiler," Piscopo told NJ Advance Media Thursday night.
"I want to keep everything nice. I don't want it to be nasty. I just want to make a fun, rogue run, and if I go in, I'll go in to win," Piscopo said.
While time is growing short for Piscopo, 65, to make up his mind, he said he does not feel pressured.
"I've got until June 6, I always say," Piscopo said, referring to the independent candidate filing deadline.
"We're very seriously still considering it. Loving the Republicans, loving the Democrats, but is it time for an independent in New Jersey? We all kind of think, maybe it is, " Piscopo said.
Piscopo was in Sparta for the local chapter of UNICO National's charity fundraising dinner, held at the Lake Mohawk Country Club.
He was warmly greeted by numerous Republican officials, including State Sen. Steve Oroho and Assemblywoman Betty Lou DeCroce.
Tony Torre, president of the 200 Club of Sussex County, said of Piscopo, "Hopefully he'll run for governor and make it interesting."
Piscopo hosts a morning radio show popular with conservatives and a poll taken in February showed him only 6 percentage points behind Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno among likely Republican primary voters.
However, Piscopo subsequently decided not to run as a Republican and declared he would have a better chance as an independent. He reportedly cited outgoing Gov. Chris Christie's unpopularity as a factor.
In response, Christie said independents do not win statewide races in New Jersey and suggested that Piscopo's true motive, in encouraging the speculation, was to boost his radio show's ratings.
Piscopo, in an interview upon arriving at the country club, said he had not intended any offense.
He praised Republicans for "working very diligently."
"I don't want to cause any upset in either party," Piscopo said, adding that he used to be a Democrat.
Six Democrats and five Republicans filed their petitions for governor by the primary filing deadline on Monday.
Piscopo was an early backer of President Trump and warmed up the crowd at a Trump rally in Florida, three days before the election.
Piscopo, who lives in Lebanon Township, suggested he would tap into a similar base of support if he runs.
"If I go, I'll earn the votes of people who are just really ready to take back the system," Piscopo said.
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