TAMPA, Fla. - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is building the case for a Mitt Romney presidency by saying the GOP nominee will tell voters the "hard truths" they need to hear to grow the economy and create jobs.

In remarks prepared for Tuesday's keynote speech at the Republican National Convention, Christie says the United States has no option but to cut federal spending and fundamentally reduce the size of government.

Christie is widely viewed as a future presidential candidate. His decision to scrap a commuter rail tunnel endeared him to fiscal conservatives.

He says he was able to balance the state's budget even with lower taxes and took on unions to overhaul a pension system headed toward bankruptcy.

Christie says political leaders have too often taken the easy road - and that voters have let them.