N.J. Gov. Chris Christie endorses Trump

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backed Donald Trump in the Republican race for president today, a powerhouse endorsement as the billionaire tries to beat back assaults on his character from a newly aggressive rival, Marco Rubio.

Christie joined Trump at a Forth Worth news conference and praised him as "the person who will go to Washington, D.C., and be able to absolutely turn the place around."

Christie said Trump was hands-down the better choice than Rubio, a first-term senator who "didn't show up for work."

"We don't need any more of these Washington, D.C. acts," said the governor, who had needled Rubio for missing Senate votes back when the governor was a candidate himself.

The shock endorsement came after Rubio, in an abrupt shift cheered by anxious Republicans nationwide, shattered months of relative peace with Trump in Thursday night's GOP debate. It marked the beginning of a long-awaited takedown effort on Trump heading into the weekend before Super Tuesday.