Without speaking to Fat Man’s political ambitions (I don’t think they’re all that relevant here), I don’t think he was so effusive in praise to The One to try and increase Obama’s chances of winning the election. It really probably wouldn’t have any practical effect.
I think he was kissing up to get federal aid after the hurricane. Obama has a history of screwing Republican states on disaster aid/declaration of emergency. Texas (fires) and Tennessee (floods) are the most prominent examples.
I guess I should clarify: I know NJ isn’t a Republican state in terms of the election, but it has a “Republican” gov, and that’s enough for Obama to withhold aid.