Christie begins re-election campaign with endorsement from major labor union

ABERDEEN ? In the first public event of his re-election campaign and a coup for any Republican, Gov. Chris Christie today accepted the support of one of the state?s largest labor unions.

?This campaign just started, but I doubt I?ll have better days than the day I was endorsed by the Laborers? International Union of North America,? Christie said.

LIUNA vice president Ray Pocino delivered the governor the union?s support and with it the manpower and resources of 20,000 members in New Jersey. He ticked off a list of building projects and construction funds revived during Christie?s administration, including the $2.5 billion Revel casino and a $750 million bond for education infrastructure. Four years ago, the powerful labor leader pledged his support to the Democrat, then-Gov. Jon Corzine.

?You have earned our support,? Pocino told Christie. ?You have earned the right to finish the job you have started in our opinion.?

Standing on a stage in the Laborers Local 472's training center, Christie and First Lady Mary Pat faced a sea of members wearing orange shirts with ?LIUNA! Builds America. Feel the Power.? Air horns blared as members cheered and waved ?Jersey Jobs? signs.

As he has before, Christie underlined what he sees as the fundamental divide between public sector unions representing teachers, with whom he has fought bitterly, and labor unions.

?Nobody deserves a layup,? Christie said during his 20-minute remarks.

?He understands that in our line of work if there is no work, there is no pay check and there are no benefits,? Pocino said.

The endorsement is also a rejection of Democrats rumored to be considering getting into the race. The only declared so far is state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex).

?I am not in this race for re-election just for the hell of it,? Christie said. ?I am in this race ? and I believe you are in it with me ? because we are gonna win and we are gonna win big.?

The Christies stuck around to pose for photographs.

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Source: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/christies_re-election_campaign.html

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