New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Tuesday came to the defense of Mitt Romney's campaign, rebuffing suggestions that the presumptive GOP nominee needs to shake up his staff.
During an appearance on "Fox & Friends", the Romney-surrogate and possible vice presidential pick was asked if the candidate should heed advice from business moguls Rupert Murdoch and Jack Welch to bring in hire new campaign officials and say good-bye to many current staffers.
"No, I really don't," Christie answered. "If I told you back in February when Gov. Romney was getting beaten up all over the Republican primaries that we'd be sitting here on the Fourth of July and he'd be in a dead heat with the president, you would've signed up for that.
"The fact of the matter is that I think Gov. Romney is running a good campaign. He's focused, he's confident, and I don't think there's any time to change right now. I think we've got a good campaign team."
Christie's defense was sparked by tweets Murdoch and Welch sent out on Sunday and Monday, respectively, urging Romney to get tougher.
"Met Romney last week. Tough O Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful," Murdoch tweeted.
"Hope Mitt Romney is listening to Murdoch advice ont campaign staff..playing in league with Chicago pols..No room for amateurs," tweeted Welch.
While Christie didn't have anything negative to say about Romney in the Fox News interview, he was somewhat critical in a new interview with ABC News.
In an interview set to air Tuesday on “Nightline,” Christie said that although Romney is "much more reserved,” the GOP candidate should open up more.
“I think he knows that,” said Christie said in reference to calls for Romney to adopt a less reserved style. “I think as time progresses in this campaign, you’re going to see him open himself up more and more to the American people, and let them see who Mitt Romney really is, like I’ve had the opportunity to see. And I think when they do, they’re going to like what they see.”
For more on Christie's comments, click here.
