Essex County Executive Crosses Party Lines To Support Christie

WEST ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Republican Gov. Chris Christie has collected an endorsement from Essex County's top elected Democrat.

County Executive Joe DiVincenzo became the latest in a string of Democrat to endorse Christie's re-election bid against Democratic Sen. Barbara Buono of Metuchen. He issued the endorsement Tuesday.

DiVincenzo backed Democrat Jon Corzine against Christie four years ago, when the Republican received 27 percent of the vote in Essex County. But DiVincenzo says he has forged a friendship and partnership with the governor, which began the day after Christie won.

Christie also collected endorsements from several Democratic black pastors who praised the governor for reaching across party lines, and from a handful of Democratic mayors in Essex County who credited him with stabilizing property tax growth.

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