Christie lauds potential 2016 rival in magazine feature

Gov. Christie doesn't have a spot on this year's TIME Magazine list, released Thursday, of The 100 Most Influential People. But the New Jersey governor did make it into the feature – with praise for a potential rival in a 2016 Republican presidential primary.

Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, authored a tribute to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who did make the list. (Another potential 2016 rival to earn mention: Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.)

Lauding Walker's move to repeal collective bargaining for most Wisconsin public workers – a step that drew heated protest in 2011 from the state's unions – Christie wrote: "Leadership takes many forms in public office. One of the most difficult challenges is standing up for what you believe in when faced with relentless public attacks. Scott Walker faced that test and passed it with flying colors."

Though his words were for Walker, Christie has made a similar case for himself lately, resurrecting the campaign he's made in the past for pension reform and reining in public employee costs. In 2011, Christie signed a law that, in part, required public workers to pay more toward their pensions.

Christie was previously named to the magazine's top-100 list in 2013 and in 2011.