New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told Florida delegates that they have no need to hold back when promoting the partys message of economic recovery or the GOPs presidential standard-bearer, Mitt Romney.
Appearing before the delegates and guests Thursday at the Fresh From Florida breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, the hard-hitting governor urged members to be boisterous when they hit the floor of the Republican National Convention later today when Romney gives his acceptance speech and to maintain that pitch through the next 70 days of the campaign.
In New Jersey, every once in a while I may say a few things that make my constituents shake their heads. I might say them in ways that make them think Wow, I wouldnt have done that,' Christie said. But the point is that I believe that gives them comfort. They never have to wonder if I have another agenda. They never have to wonder what Im thinking.
He added that by modifying and mollifying the party message, it leaves voters with vanilla leadership.
Our problems are too big to be playing charades. Our problems our too big to be sending smoke signals. Our problems are too big to be playing the political games of the past. In New Jersey we stand up for conservative principles and were unapologetic about it.
It is not enough to make the case against Barack Obama. We must make the case for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, and in a broader way, for the conservative Republican style of governance.
If Floridas delegates have any reflective qualms from Christie's delivery, it could be that while he gave a roll call of prominent governors who have been building their economies -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Michigan Gov. Rick Synder, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, all Republicans -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott wasnt mentioned.
But those at the breakfast gave rapt attention as Christie reviewed the first two nights of the convention, including his own keynote address on Tuesday, which have been to lay out the case against re-electing President Obama and replace him with Romney.
Christie, known not to hold back on his views, drew laughs for numerous lines, including one describing Obama as someone who has been walking around in a dark room searching for the light switch of leadership.
Christie also offered a glimpse of why he endorsed Romney last October, early in the primary process, when the former Massachusetts governor spent a day at Christies home only to have what was expected to be a quiet conversation interrupted by Christies two youngest children, ages 12 and 9.
What I saw that day from Mitt Romney that day you cant fake, what it told me was something that I didnt know until that day, this really is an involved father and doting grandfather, this is a man with a good heart, Christie said.
If someone is faking with kids, they just walk away. My kids were drawn to him. And if I had any doubt in my mind, when he came there that day, of who I was going to endorse, after the interaction with my two children, I had no doubt left.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
