Let me just say I mostly agree with you. I do think Christie was a little too effusive in his praise like a kid in school overly praising the jocks so they can be popular too.
Also we can say all day long we shouldn’t play politics during disaster, etc, etc but Dems will always do it so it follows that Republicans will have to as well. And I don’t mean he should’ve stiffed or been combative with Obama but he is smart and he should know that the media that he always does battle with would take every liberty to help Obama with every compliment he made and been a little mindful of that.
HOWEVER it has been an adamant point of mine that yes if a couple of ridiculously staged photo ops would swing the momentum that Romney had after the horrible job Obama has done then we would’ve never won anyway if everyone is that easily manipulated.
I think that is a fair way to state it with the caveat that we really don't know what Obama has been doing behind the scenes. I mean it is his job after all and he is standing for election in less than week. So it is reasonable to assume that Obama would want to look good and do everything he can for NJ at this critical juncture. If so then Christie may have been truthful in praising him.
However it is a matter of style. Christie was a bit over the top in the way he praised someone for perhaps doing their damn job. I say perhaps because I still have no idea what Obama actually did or is doing.