US President Barack Obama (R) is greeted by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie upon arriving in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 31, 2012 to visit areas hardest hit by the unprecedented cyclone Sandy. Americans sifted through the wreckage of superstorm Sandy on Wednesday as millions remained without power. The storm carved a trail of devastation across New York City and New Jersey, killing dozens of people in several states, swamping miles of coastline, and throwing the tied-up White House race into disarray just days before the vote. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
CAMPAIGN 2012
MIAMI (CBS4) – Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has spent part of the past few days praising President Obama over his response to Hurricane Sandy.
Christie has been one of Mitt Romney’s most prominent supporters. He delivered the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention. At the time, Christie criticized the President’s leadership.
“I’ve called him a guy who walks around in a dark room searching for the light switch of leadership,” Christie said on August 30th, a day after the RNC.
In an interview on CBS Tuesday, Christie changed his tone.
“The cooperation from the President of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit,” he said.
Wednesday afternoon, the President toured the destruction in New Jersey with Governor Christie. Both were aboard the presidential helicopter, Marine One.
“It’s been a great working relationship to make sure that were doing the jobs the people elected us to do, and I cannot thank the President enough for his personal concern and compassion for our state and the people of our state,” said Christie.
“If you see the President being praised by a Republican, after a disaster, that probably helps the President,” said Marc Caputo, The Miami Herald’s political reporter.
“I guess what’s strange about this for all of us is that we’re actually seeing a Democrat and a Republican working together and it’s now so foreign to us in this bizarre partisan atmosphere that we start to question everyone’s motives,” said Caputo.
After the tour with the President, Gov. Christie said his motives are to help the people of New Jersey.
“When you know you have a responsibility for those folks, you can give a damn about the politics of things. I could care less today … There will be some folks who criticize me for complimenting him. Well, you know what? I speak the truth. That’s what I always do,” said Christie.
