Here's what Chris Christie said about President Obama during his keynote speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention:

I know we can be the men and women our country calls on us to be tonight. I believe in America and her history, and there's only one thing missing now. Leadership. It takes leadership that you don't get from reading a poll. You see, Mr. President, real leaders do not follow polls. Real leaders change polls.

That speech was all about leadership, in fact. Christie used some form of the word "lead" more than 20 times during his speech. He also said, "Leadership delivers. Leadership counts. Leadership matters." And his point was that President Obama just doesn't lead. Now, as Charles points out, Christie has openly praised Obama's "leadership," citing the "great job" he's done and thanking him for his work. It's kind of sad that a Republican praising a Democrat for doing his job is huge news, but that's the climate we live in.

I think Christie is being genuine, here. I honestly believe he thinks President Obama is doing a great job. But I also think he'll be voting for Mitt Romney next week, too. This move was sincere, but it was also political. (Despite what some would have you think, those two things—sincerity and politics—aren't mutually exclusive.) Christie is going to run for a second term as governor of New Jersey, presumably against Cory Booker, next year. And he definitely has designs on the presidency after that. He's been portrayed as a teabaggy leader for so long now that he needs to score some bipartisan bona fides before the election—otherwise, he'd be too easy to paint as a Republican caricature. But this kind of bipartisanship does carry a high price in the Republican party of 2012: Here's a comment on a YouTube video of Christie praising Obama earlier today:

Christie is a closeted liberal piece of scum. Mitt 2012!

I think the election is starting back up again, you guys. Not even six days left!