Christie, Buono Take Jabs At Each Other On Election Eve
HILLSIDE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- On Election eve Monday, Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic rival Barbara Buono were each making a last-minute push for votes.
As CBS 2's Christine Sloan reported, Christie campaigned Monday in Nutley, Hillside, Freehold, South Plainfield, Morris Plains and Union City – some of which are heavily Democratic towns. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez stood at his side.
Even though polls show Christie leading Buono by more than 30 points, he said he is not taking chances.
"Despite the fact that Hillside gave me a whooping four years ago, I am back," Christie said.
Martinez was looking toward Christie's political present and future.
"My sign says, 'Here I am with future president of the United States,'" Martinez said.
Sloan asked the two governors if they planned on running on a GOP ticket together in 2016.
"I would support Governor Christie in anything that he did, but I do know he is focused on being governor for New Jersey for the next four years," Martinez said.
Christie in recent days has taken issue with Buono for what he has called an angry campaign on her part.
"If our party wants to be successful again we have to focus on winning elections not arguments," he said.
Buono, meanwhile, repeated her argument that Christie is really focused on someday becoming president.
"There is one person running for governor, and you are looking at her," she said.
Buono spent part of her day giving a pep talk to her young volunteers. She said she was not fazed by poll numbers or what she called Christie-orchestrated events.
"The fact of the matter is there is no one more enamored with Chris Christie than Chris Christie," she said. "Politics is just a vanity project for him."
Christie dismissed Buono's remarks as hostile rhetoric.
"Senator Buono has a campaign built out of anger," he said. "She can call me whatever she likes. On Wednesday, she'll be calling me governor."
Buono in turn called Christie's "anger" comments an act of name-calling.
"As soon as someone calls him out on his record or his campaign, he starts calling them out and saying that they're angry," she said.
A small group of Christie protesters defended Buono at the Hillside event.
"He deserves whatever he gets," said Roselouise Holz of Hillside. "I hope he loses."
Both candidates will be campaigning right through Election Day.
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