Obama stumps for Corzine in N.J.

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama Sunday stumped in New Jersey for Gov. Jon Corzine, who is in a tight race for re-election against Republican challenger Chris Christie.

Speaking at a campaign stop in Newark, the president called Corzine an "honorable man, a decent man, an honest man" who has "put the interests of hardworking New Jersey families ahead of self-interest and ahead of politics."

Obama told audiences in Newark and Camden Corzine has provided more property tax relief than any other governor in New Jersey history and is the first governor in 60 years to reduce the size of government in the state. Referring to Christie as "the other guy," Obama responded to criticism by the GOP candidate of Corzine over the state's economic troubles.

"We had the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression," he said. "By the way, that didn't start under Jon's watch. That didn't start under my watch."

The president said the economic downturn was a result of "the same theories, the same lax regulation, the same trickle-down economics that the other guy's party has been peddling for years."

In an appearance at Camden, he got a laugh with a joke about the scheduling of campaign events two days before the election at the same time the Philadelphia Eagles were playing the New York Giants in Philadelphia.

"I appreciate all of you who aren't at the Giants/Eagles game," he said.