Obama says NJ governor is key to his own agenda

CAMDEN, N.J. — In a final campaign swing on behalf of the only governor seeking re-election this fall, President Barack Obama on Sunday pitched Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's bid as a key component for the White House to make good on its political promises.

"He's one of the best partners I have in the White House. We work together," Obama said. "We know our work is far from over."

Obama drew 6,500 people at a rally in Camden and another 11,000 later in Newark, according to campaign estimates. He urged supporters to work hard to give Corzine another term in office so he can work with Washington to help repair a brittle economy. A Corzine loss would be seen as a political embarrassment for the White House.

Obama tagged Republican leadership and lax regulations for the economic crisis and dismissed GOP candidate Chris Christie's criticism of Corzine. Their race is seen as a tossup, and a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll released Sunday found Christie backed by 43 percent of likely voters and Corzine by 42 percent.

"It wasn't a consequence of Obama policies or Corzine policies that we went into this hole," the president said during a raucous campaign stop in Camden. "There seems to be some selective memory going on here."

In Newark, Obama kept the campaign personal: "I know this man. When I was running for the United States Senate, before anybody knew my name, Jon Corzine offered his support."

Corzine, entering the final push of his close re-election bid, wrapped himself in Obama's brand, calling him "our friend, our partner." He took the stage to a Stevie Wonder tune, a staple from the Obama campaign soundtrack. Citing Obama's win a year ago, he said a victory on Tuesday would help him support the White House's agenda.

"I'm here to ask you a simple question: Are you ready to keep it going?" Corzine said. "Today I am standing with President Obama. That tells you everything you need to know."

The race might provide a much-needed win for Obama and his Democrats, who trail in the nation's only other governor's race. Virginia appears to be heading in favor of Republican Bob McDonnell. White House aides are bracing for Democrat Creigh Deeds' loss and already are girding for criticism that Obama didn't do enough to help what they describe as a flawed candidate.

The White House has sought to downplay the races as routine. Still, by the time he returned to the White House Sunday, Obama had attended five events for Corzine's bid amid a schedule that has returned to campaign mode in hopes of steadying Democrats' fortunes. They want to avoid having the Virginia race seen as a test of Obama, who was elected in an electoral landslide just a year ago and has campaigned for Deeds.