NJ’s Gov Chris Christie calls Obama “outstanding”

New Jersey's Republican governor Chris Christie has put politics aside and praised the Obama administration for their handling of the disaster relief efforts after Sandy bore down on the state. 

Christie has been a fierce critic of the president and has acted as a campaign surrogate for Republican challenger Mitt Romney, reports the Wall Street Journal.

But Christie told morning talk shows on Tuesday that President Obama's response to the storm has been "outstanding". 

He said Obama called him at midnight to check in, and the two spoke by phone three times on Monday.

“The president has been outstanding in this,” Christie said.

"He called me for the last time at midnight last night and asked me what I needed," Christie told MSNBC's 'Morning Joe'. "The president has been all over this and deserves great credit." 

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New Jersey saw some of the worst destruction after superstorm Sandy came ashore.

President Obama signed major-disaster declarations for much of coastal New Jersey. The designation releases federal funds to use for emergency services, debris removal and temporary housing, reports the LA Times. 

AP is reporting that the Romney campaign is considering whether to send their candidate to New Jersey later in the week to survey the damage alongside Christie.

Christie told Fox & Friends that he wasn't told about the plans and didn't have time for campaigning. 

“I have a job in New Jersey that is much bigger than presidential politics," Christie said. "I couldn't care less about that.”

Christie's support of Mitt Romney has been very influential for the candidate. Christie gave the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in August.

The Boston Globe reports that during that speech, Christie criticized what he called a lack of leadership from the Obama administration, using the word "leader" 17 times. 

“It’s time to end this era of absentee leadership in the Oval Office and send real leaders to the White House,” Christie said at the convention.