In Storm-Ravaged New Jersey, Community Needs Transcend Politics

In the wake of natural disasters, U.S. elected officials regularly put partisan politics aside to focus on saving lives and restoring livelihoods. President Obama, a Democrat, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, are working together to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

President Obama, center, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, left, watch New Jersey Governor Chris Christie greet storm victims at Brigantine Beach Community Center.

Obama, the Democratic nominee to the U.S. presidency, toured devastated areas of New Jersey on October 31 with Christie, an outspoken supporter of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

In the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, partisan politics regularly are pushed aside as federal and state officials cooperate to ensure assistance quickly reaches those in need.

Crediting Obama for working “incredibly closely with me since before the storm hit,” Christie said at a press briefing in Brigantine, New Jersey, that the cooperation has been “a great working relationship to make sure that we’re doing the jobs that people elected us to do.”

Obama praised Christie for being “aggressive in making sure that the state got out in front of this incredible storm.” The president expressed his belief that “the people of New Jersey recognize that [Christie] has put his heart and soul into making sure that the people of New Jersey bounce back even stronger than before” and thanked the governor for his extraordinary leadership and partnership.