WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Chris Christie roared into Iowa yesterday to serve as Mitt Romney’ political enforcer with a Jersey-style campaign slogan: Vote Romney, or else.
“I’m thrilled to be in Iowa. New Jersey’s watching it, too. We’re watching you really closely,” Christie told a screaming crowd of several hundred outside a Hy-Vee supermarket in suburban Des Moines.
Then came the Jersey-style warning: “Let me tell you. You people disappoint me on Tuesday — you don’t do what you’re supposed to on Tuesday with Mitt Romney — I will be back. Jersey-style, people. I will be back,” Christie told the crowd, which responded with laughs and applause.
Asked afterward about his tongue-in-cheek threat, Christie told The Post: “Yes I did. I threatened. Let there be no doubt about that. And that’s a New Jersey threat, which equals a promise. They don’t do what they’re supposed to do, I will be back and I’ll be angry.”
Many Iowans in the crowd said they were still coming to terms with Romney but are already sold on Christie, and that they hope Christie will come back: either campaigning for Romney, as running mate, or even as a future candidate himself should Romney lose.
Christie “got us to come out. We might not have made it out to see Romney in this weather. We hope in 10 or 12 years Christie gets to the White House,” said Aimee Packard of Dexter, who is home-schooling her two kids.
“He doesn’t give you the feeling that he’s a slick politician. He’s a big fat guy, right? He’s going to do what he says he’s doing to do,” she added.
“I think it adds a lot of credibility because there’s a lot of people who would have loved to see him run for president,” said Scott Beuchler, who works in computer software support in Des Moines.
Christie, who drew attention for shouting down Occupy Wall Street-type protesters at a past Iowa event, ignored protesters in the crowd yesterday and stuck to Romney’s message and ripped President Obama.
“Let’s be real clear. President Barack Obama came out to Iowa three years ago, and he talked to you about hope and change. Let me tell you, after three years of Obama, we are hopeless and changeless. And we need Mitt Romney to bring us back, to bring America back,” he said.
Some Christie-watchers are viewing his Iowa jaunt as a potential test-drive to see how he would perform as a running mate should Romney secure the GOP nomination.
Christie’s reputation for tough talk in taking on the political establishment and sparring with Democrats and unions has made him a well-known figure among Republicans here — even though he said one reason he didn’t seek the presidency himself is that he wasn’t ready for the office.
Romney smiled and laughed while sharing a stage with Christie, despite the biting wind.
After the event, Romney jetted to New Hampshire to campaign there while Christie kept campaigning for him in Iowa.
Romney also hit at Rep. Ron Paul, with whom he is dueling atop the latest polls in Iowa.
“I’m working harder than anyone to make sure he’s not the nominee,” Romney said. “I don’t think Ron Paul represents the mainstream.”