Romney and Christie in West Des Moines (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--Chris Christie came to Iowa on Friday, not as a 2012 presidential candidate, as many Republicans in the state had hoped, but as Mitt Romney's most high-profile surrogate in the final days before Tuesday's first-in-the-nation caucuses.
More than 100 people turned out before daylight in the parking lot of a Hy-Vee supermarket, standing for more than an hour in high winds and a steady drizzle to see Romney and Christie, the governor of New Jersey.
Dressed in a pinstripe navy blue suit, Christie was greeted like a celebrity by the bundled-up masses, some of whom rushed outside to see the governor after taking refuge inside their cars against the harsh winter morning.
Christie bluntly put forth what has become Romney's main talking point: That President Obama has failed to deliver on the hope and change he promised as a candidate four years ago.
"The president is going to try to convince you somehow that he deserves to be rehired," Christie said. "Well let's be real clear, real clear: President Barack Obama came out to Iowa three years ago, and he talked to you about hope and change. Well let me tell ya, after three years of Obama, we're hopeless and changeless, and we need Mitt Romney to bring us back, to bring America back."
Playing off his persona as a New Jersey tough guy, Christie issued a mock warning.
"New Jersey's watching you ? We're watching you real closely," he said. "And I want to tell you something. I want to tell you something really clearly. I'm in a good mood this morning. I'm feeling happy and upbeat. I'm happy to be with Mitt and Ann. But let me tell ya, if you people disappoint me Tuesday, if you don't do what you're supposed to do on Tuesday for Mitt Romney. I will be back, Jersey-style."
Afterward, as Christie moved through the crowd toward Romney's bus, a man called out, "I wish it were you!" Christie smiled, but did not respond.
Christie, who was elected in 2009, long insisted he wouldn't seek the presidency but briefly entertained the idea in the fall after several Republicans?including a group of top party operatives in Iowa?urged him to reconsider. But in October he again ruled out a run and endorsed Romney.
Christie is hitting the road with Romney's wife, Ann, on Friday for several events in Iowa, as Romney travels to New Hampshire for a handful of campaign events. Romney is set to be back in Iowa on Saturday night and has planned 10 events around the state in the closing hours before Tuesday's caucuses.
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