Republican N.J. Gov. Chris Christie picks up more backing from Democrats

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie may tout an “R” for Republican Party in his title, but he sure does get a lot of support from Democrats — the latest just this week.

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long, a Democrat, endorsed Mr. Christie for re-election on Wednesday, praising his leadership during the Superstorm Sandy cleanup and saying the ongoing rebuilding efforts demand a nonpartisan approach, according to a report in the Ashbury Park Press.

“There is no time for Republicans and Democrats to bash each other in the name of party politics. I don’t want to spend the next six months being coy,” she said, in a public endorsement announcement in her town, the Ashbury Park Press reported.

The endorsement from Ms. Long is the second for Mr. Christie from a Democratic mayor. The first was Raymond McDonough, a Democrat from Harrison.

Mr. Christie has been on a wave of support lately. A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday gave him an approval rating of 74 percent, the highest for any N.J. governor in any Quinnipiac poll, the National Journal reports. But his rising popularity among Democrats is having an adverse effect on members of his own party.

Pundit Glenn Beck summed up the mood of many on the right, according to a Real Clear Politics report: “I thought Chris Christie was really good, and I ignored a few things that kind of bothered me. But now, I don’t like Christie.”

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.