Christie tells S.C. GOP about Romney’s personal side

TAMPA, Fla. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told South Carolina Republicans on Thursday that he got some meaningful insight into Mitt Romney when their families met this year.

Christie spoke to delegation members as part of the convention’s larger effort to introduce Romney’s personal side to the American people, to show a side of Romney that many voters haven’t seen.

Romney and his wife, Ann, dropped by Christie’s New Jersey home for lunch one Saturday several months ago, Christie said, shortly after Christie ended speculation about his potential presidential bid.

Christie said he had hoped his children would make themselves scarce after meeting Romney, but instead, two of the Christies’ youngest children approached Romney outside, and he engaged them at length about the sports they played — ice hockey and gymnastics.

As Christie watched his children with the GOP’s now-official presidential nominee, “It struck me. You can’t fake that.”

“If the American people see that heart in Mitt Romney, they will conclude they can trust him,” he said.

Christie was the first governor to endorse Romney, and he delivered the keynote address at this convention Tuesday night. Should Romney lose this fall, Christie could start visiting South Carolina more often, probing a possible presidential run of his own.

S.C. GOP Chairman Chad Connelly said, “There is no question Governor Christie is a rising star.”

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.