President Obama to Rally for Governor Corzine

MYFOXNY.COM - New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has friends in high places and he's hoping their fans will become fans of his. First it was rocker Jon Bon Jovi, then Vice President Joe Biden, now President Barack Obama has agreed to rally for Corzine.

"He is a friend of mine," Corzine said, referring to President Obama. "He said it publicly."

WATCH THE FOX 5 NEWS REPORT (VIDEO TAB)

And now President Barack Obama will publicly help try to get his friend get re-elected. The president will headline a re-election rally in New Brunswick on July 16.

"I think we have much alignment so I think the president speaking to the same values and the same policies will be a good thing," the governor said.

In recent polls, Corzine has been lagging behind his Republican challenger, Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor. According to a Fairleigh Dickinson-Public Mind Poll, Corzine is trailing Christie in the race for governor; 45 percent of voters polled favor Christie and 39 percent favor Corzine.

However, Corzine is narrowing the gap.

Mike Kelly, a columnist at the Record, said the president's visit should help, but he says it is a gamble for Corzine.

"You have a very unpopular politician and not a very good speaker who's going be on the same stage as Obama who happens to be one of the most popular politicians in the world," Kelly said.

Christie's campaign manager reacted to Obama's endorsement.

"This race isn't about President Obama. It is about the issues that face New Jersey and Jon Corzine's record -- higher taxes, staggering job losses and lower achievement in our schools," Bill Stepien said in a statement. "No obligatory endorsement from the President can change Corzine's subpar record."

As for the polls, Corzine said: "The only poll that counts is in November."