LEBANON, N.H. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Mitt Romney for president Tuesday, calling him “the best person to lead America.”
Standing alongside the Republican frontrunner at an event in Lebanon, N.H., Christie touted Romney’s “executive experience” both as a businessman and as the governor of Massachusetts in his endorsement, which he called an “easy decision.”
“I believe he’s the best person to be able to articulate Republican values,” Christie said, as well as the best candidate to defeat President Barack Obama in 2012.
Romney, for his part, also heaped praise on Christie, describing him as “a real hero in Republican circles.”
Christie had harsh words for the president, saying he was not ready for his position and that his 2012 re-election strategy was based on dividing Americans.
He also defended Romney’s health care overhaul in Massachusetts, which his Republican rivals have often tied to Obama’s plan.
“Governor Romney did not raise one tax” in overhauling health care in Massachusetts, Christie said, adding that “the president of the United States is raising taxes over and over” to pay for his federal program.
“We should not allow people for political purposes to try to be disingenuous” in comparing Romney and Obama’s health care legislation, Christie said, adding that any attempt to do so is “completely intellectually dishonest.”
Christie also defended Romney from recent attacks on his Mormon faith. “These types of religious matters have nothing to do with somebody’s ability to lead,” he said.
Robert Jeffress, a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Dallas who introduced Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., last week, criticized Romney’s faith saying, “Mormonism is not Christianity” and describing the religion as a “cult.”
Christie strongly condemned those words, saying that any candidate associated with smears of this kind “is beneath the office of the President of the United States in my view.”
Romney, for his part, also heaped praise on Christie, describing him as “a real hero in Republican circles.”
The New Jersey governor, who last week announced he would not enter the GOP race, threw his support to Romney ahead of Tuesday night’s Washington Post/Bloomberg News Republican debate in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Romney and his wife Ann met with Christie at the New Jersey governor’s home in Mendham on Saturday. It was there that Christie offered to endorse him, CBS News reported.
Christie’s endorsement is by far the most significant of the campaign cycle to date and further solidifies Romney’s standing as the establishment frontrunner. Two NBC News/Marist polls released Tuesday showed Romney leading the GOP field in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
A number of top GOP donors — including Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and hedge fund manager Paul Singer — who had waited on the sidelines as Christie mulled a run, moved into Romney’s camp following the New Jersey governor’s decision.
News of Christie’s endorsement came after Romney secured the backing of former New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg and former Florida Sen. Mel Martinez earlier in the week.
Appearing on FOX News shortly after the endorsement was made public, Ray Sullivan, the communications director for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, sought to downplay the news.
“Northeast Republicans are sticking together in this case,” he said, reacting to the announcement.
Christie and Romney were due to sit down together for a joint interview with NBC News following their appearance in Lebanon.