New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rallied behind Charles and David Koch in his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference Thursday but avoided mentioning them by name.Near the beginning of his address, Christie slammed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for railing "against two American entrepreneurs who have built a business, created jobs, and created wealth and philanthropy in this country.""Harry Reid should get back to work and stop picking on great Americans who are creating great things in our country," Christie said.

Reid has often lashed out at the billionaire Koch brothers, who have helped fund Americans for Prosperity, and their role in politics, The Huffington Post reports.Most recently, Reid said the two had received an excellent return on their investment in the 2010 elections and said they were trying to use their wealth to buy the Senate in 2014, the Post said.Americans for Prosperity has reportedly spent more than $30 million on ads attacking Democrats in the 2014 election cycle.Democrats have targeted the Koch brothers for years, but GOP politicians do not often come to their defense in public, according to the National Journal The Koch brothers have also donated large sums to the Republican Governors Association, which is chaired by Christie. Koch Industries, their energy company, has reportedly been the RGA's top donor so far this cycle, contributing more than $1 million.