Christie, who could have been rival, endorses Romney
Tony Leys
2:54 PM, Oct 11, 2011
Covering Mitt Romney
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Tags: Chris Christie, David Oman, Gary Kirke, Jim Kersten, Mitt Romney
Candidate Tags: Mitt Romney
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who could have posed a daunting challenge to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, instead endorsed him today in New Hampshire.
In televised remarks, Christie lauded Romney's experience as a business executive and as a governor of Massachusetts. "We know he brings the best of both to what we need for America right now," Christie said as Romney stood behind him.
Christie said Romney brings optimism and know-how to the task of helping the economy grow, which he said is a contrast to President Obama's effort to pit Americans against each other for shares of a stagnant economy.
Christie announced last week that he would not run for president, despite persistent wooing by fans attracted to his blunt style and record as a first-term governor. The possibility that he might run was particularly popular among fiscal conservatives, who are the main target of Romney's campaign.
Jim Kersten, a former state senator from Fort Dodge, was one of seven prominent Iowa Republicans who flew to New Jersey in May to try to persuade Christie to run for president. Kersten said today that he is still undecided among the remaining candidates, but he said Christie's endorsement was helping push him toward Romney.
Kersten said Christie was correct to note Romney's experience as a business executive and as a governor. "That's one of the things the American people are looking for – someone who can make decisions and who has a record to run on," Kersten said.
Kersten said he was a bit surprised by how quickly the New Jersey governor made the endorsement, but he noted that the campaign season is becoming increasingly compressed as other states move up their contests, forcing Iowa and New Hampshire to do the same. The endorsement came a few hours before a candidates' debate in New Hampshire.
Iowa businessman Gary Kirke, who was among the seven who tried to sway Christie in May, said Tuesday that Christie's endorsement of Romney was "ill-advised." Kirke said the governor of a state should not endorse anyone before that state's primary. "I don't like it in either party. I don't think it's right," he said.
After Christie announced last week that he wouldn't run, Kirke came out in favor of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but he said that isn't why he disapproves of Christie's endorsement of Romney. "I wouldn't want him to endorse Perry, either," he said.
Former Iowa GOP co-chairman David Oman said the endorsement would be a boost for Romney in Iowa and across the nation. "Unquestionably, Gov. Christie is among the most popular figures in today's Republican Party," said Oman, a Des Moines businessman who is backing Romney.
Oman said he hopes the endorsement is another sign that support is coalescing around Romney now that the Republican field of candidates appears to be set. "But make no mistake, the calendar is long and the campaign will have twists and turns that we can't yet know."