Christie Endorses Romney Before Tues. GOP Debate

UPDATE:

Christie made the endorsement official during a 3:15 pm ET news conference. Appearing alongside Romney, he said the country cant "survive" four more years of Barack Obama. You can watch it below:

Original story below.

Fox News has learned that NJ Gov. Chris Christie will endorse Mitt Romney for president before Tuesday night's GOP presidential debate.

Foxnews.com has more:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, just one week after definitively announcing he will not run for president in the 2012 race, plans to endorse Mitt Romney for the job Tuesday afternoon, Fox News has learned.

The event is set to take place in Hanover, N.H., the site of the Republican presidential debate being held Tuesday night. The endorsement will be made in advance of the debate.

Marking a fast turnaround for Romney, the endorsement comes one week to the day since Christie called a press conference in Trenton to end once and for all the speculation that he would make a late entrance into the race.

Politico adds:

It gives Romney a major boost heading into the latest debate in New Hampshire tonight, and is a serioues "get" as he tries to consolidate support amid Rick Perry's fade.

While the timing puts Christie out in front rather early, it will allow him to claim credit if a dam of support starts breaking Romney's way. So far, even with Perry's troubles in his campaign, it's been more like a trickle of establishment types toward Romney.