Christie to the rescue

     Romney got a huge endorsement from Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey.  Christie was expected to run for president on the republican ticket, however, he decided to keep his position as Governor and finish his term in office.  Christie appeared with Romney in Wets Des Moines Iowa at a campaign rally.  It was a cold day as Christie spoke of coming back on the campaign trail if the audience does not vote for Romney on Tuesday.  The Governor was stern about what he said and hoped that everyone listened and respected what he said in respect to Romney.  The Romney campaign has been very careful to gain support that he did not get in the 2008 primary.  He is prepared and his campaigning has been more extensive.  When Christie, he disregarded the possibility of Romney claiming victory in Iowa, since he was truly unsure.  With the support from Christie, Romney was able to raise over a million dollars extra.  Afterwards Romney traveled to New Hampshire, to start his campaigning, where the first primary will be held.  Finally, there is candidate that will implement what Christie has done in Jersey to the country, and that is Romney.  However, there is still the uncertainty to support Romney since it is unclear how Romney will handle himself as president, because he is not Governor Christie.  Jenna Portnoy takes a conservative look on how Governor Christie has used his power to sway voters towards Romney.  Christie appears to be liked more than Romney since she cites that no one can do a job as well as the job being done in New Jersey.  Romney needs this supportive man in power to put voters in the Romney bank, but Christie must make a greater effort because it sounds that his whole heart is not dedicated to making Romney the nominee. 

New Jersey Star-Ledger

Christie uses tough talk in Iowa to encourage Republicans to vote for Romney

Published: Saturday, December 31, 2011, 6:00 AM    

By Jenna Portnoy/Statehouse Bureau

Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesFormer Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie appear together at a campaign rally at a Hy Vee supermarket Dec. 30, 2011 in West Des Moines, Iowa.

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Gov. Chris Christie likes to say he’s improving New Jersey’s image around the country.

But at a campaign stop in Des Moines Friday morning, Christie let loose on Iowa Republicans with all the attitude they’ve come to expect from the birthplace of "The Sopranos."
"If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do for Mitt Romney on Tuesday," Christie said, defiant in only a suit jacket against the biting cold and wind-whipped rain, "I will be back, Jersey-style, people. I will be back."
A few hours later in Cedar Rapids, Christie was unrelenting in an interview: "I hope they’ve taken me seriously because I will come back here plenty angry if they don’t do the right thing on Tuesday night. So they don’t want that. They’ve seen that. It’s not good."
That straight talk is part of Christie’s appeal in Iowa, where voters are preparing for the first-in-the-nation caucuses — and what will be the start of the 2012 presidential contest — on Tuesday night.
Mindful of Romney’s debilitating second-place finish here four years ago, the campaign has done much to manage expectations. But after months of moving slowly and tentatively, it has hit its stride.
In recent days, Romney’s poll numbers have improved, moving him ahead of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and well in front of Newt Gingrich. The finicky Republicans here have even bolstered former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, in the final crucial days. Not long ago voters named Michelle Bachman winner of the Iowa straw poll and rallied around Herman Cain.
Still Christie, who will track the returns in New Jersey, stopped short of predicting a victory during his one-day whirlwind trip to Iowa.
"I don’t know how he’s going to do Tuesday night," he said. "I have a sense he’ll do well. Whether well means first place, second place, third place, it’s such a fluid situation. We’ve seen the polls are crazy so who knows."
Traveling with the governor, his close friend and political confidant Bill Palatucci said the Romney campaign was notably upbeat compared with their last visit. In between, Romney picked up $1.2 million at a fundraiser in Parsippany hosted by Christie.
"I feel a sense of real calm confidence about the Romney campaign that wasn’t quite evident when we were here three weeks ago," he said. "It’s different.
Christie won’t be back to Iowa before Tuesday, but Palatucci said the campaign understands the energy Romney’s most bombastic surrogate brings to the trail. Several hundred people stood outside the Hy-Vee grocery store in West Des Moines lashed by the wind and the rain to watch the men share a stage, along with Romney’s wife Ann.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesN.J. gov. Chris Christie addresses a campaign rally with former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) and his wife Ann Romney (2nd R) at a Hy Vee supermarket on Dec. 30, 2011 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Christie, who was urged to run for president earlier this year, appeared with Romney just days before the "first in the nation" Iowa Caucuses.

Romney then peeled off for a 30-hour trip to New Hampshire, where the first primary will be held, and Christie alone packed the Spring House Family Restaurant in Cedar Rapids and Catfish Charlie’s in Dubuque before calling it a day.
"The Romney campaign always extends the governor an open invitation to come whenever he wants to wherever he wants." Palatucci said. "They see him as a major asset. They’re happy to have him whenever the schedule allows."
Romney speaks highly enough of Christie — who may well be his most prominent supporter — to keep fueling rumors of a Romney-Christie ticket in November. And though Christie coyly demurs, he has not shut the door completely.
"We finally have to have someone go to Washington who will do what Chris Christie is doing in New Jersey, which is to finally bring sanity to the people there, to work across the aisle," Romney said, surveying the crowd in West Des Moines that was dotted with American flags.
John Wisniewski, chairman of the Democratic Party in New Jersey, swatted back the comparison in an e-mail message.
"Let’s face it, Mitt Romney could never do what Governor Christie has done in Trenton," he said. "He couldn’t generate enough razzle-dazzle to distract people from the fact that he’s picking their pocket to reward millionaires with tax cuts as if his life depended on it."
Ronald Cashman, the owner of a milk-hauling business outside Dubuque who is still undecided but leaning toward Romney, liked the idea of an opposites attract team for the White House.
"(Christie) has no finesse whatsoever and Romney is all finesse," he said, waiting for the governor’s arrival at Charlie’s Catfish. "Christie wants to have a Jersey brawl."