Christie wins support from Democratic mayors

• Long is second Democratic mayor in N.J. to endorse Christie
• Local Democratic leaders criticize Long%2C question commitment to party
• Long says she must work across party lines to get things done for her town

SEA BRIGHT, N.J. -- Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has picked up the endorsement of another Democratic mayor in his re-election campaign.

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long threw her support behind Christie on Wednesday, touting his leadership in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and saying she has no time for partisan politics while trying to rebuild her town, which was heavily damaged by the storm.

"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 during the endorsement announcement in Sea Bright.

Long is the second Democratic mayor, after Harrison's Raymond McDonough, to endorse Christie for re-election.

Her announcement, however, drew an almost immediate backlash from Monmouth County Democrats, who put out a joint statement with Monmouth County Democrats Women's Caucus on Wednesday night questioning Long's commitment to the party. The statement, issued on Facebook, vows to restructure the party's Sea Bright wing to "ensure that the voice of true Democrats is one that prevails."

Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Vin Gopal did not return calls for comment.

Christie said Gopal's statement represents "a product of yesterday's politics. ... Maybe the chairman will see the wisdom."

Christie handily won Sea Bright in his 2009 matchup against then-Gov. Jon S. Corzine, with 406 votes to Corzine's 164. Including the independents, Christie had 67 percent to Corzine's 27 percent.

Long said she spoke Wednesday night to Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Buono said Long and others have the right to back Christie.

"I respect the right of politicians to endorse whomever they choose, for whatever reason they choose," Buono said.

Recent polls suggest that Buono faces an uphill fight to unseat Christie; she trailed him by nearly 40 points.

But Long said her decision to support Christie had nothing to do with Buono.

"When you step outside this beautifully rebuilt restaurant, you are sitting in a legitimate, Category 1 natural disaster," Long said. "Tens of thousands of New Jerseyans had their lives literally blown apart by Superstorm Sandy. And in my community alone there are hundreds of people who are struggling every day to get by. This governor understands that."

The endorsement comes after a friendship Christie and Long have formed while working to right a town walloped by the Oct. 29 storm. Christie has visited Sea Bright four times since Sandy. At the last appearance, Christie touted Long's leadership and advocacy for the oceanfront town, joking that she almost got him to buy a beach badge.

After the endorsement announcement, Long said she has no choice but to work across party lines if she wants to get work done for her town.

"I'm a Democratic mayor with a Republican council in a Republican county and a state with a Republican governor," she said. "What am I supposed to do?"

While she drew rebuke from her party, Long found allies in Wednesday's crowd.

Liz von Ziegesar of Sea Bright, a Democrat, wore a "Sea Bright (heart) Governor Christie" T-shirt to the endorsement announcement. She said she was proud of Long and said both the mayor and Christie have been inspirations for the town and state.

"How could she not support the governor when he has been amazing for the state?" von Ziegesar said.

Contributing: Michael Symons