Shaq endorses Christie for governor of New Jersey
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has a new public supporter in his quest for re-election: former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal.
"I don't endorse many politicians," O'Neal says in a new ad released on Sunday by the Christie campaign. "But Chris Christie is different."
Better known as Shaq, Shaq Fu or the Big Aristotle, the 7-foot-1 former rapper, current studio analyst and Buick pitchman played 20 seasons in the NBA for six different teams. The 41-year-old was born in Newark.
According to His Shaqness, Christie is working to "bring jobs back to our cities and on a new program to help kids in tough neighborhoods get ahead."
"Gov. Christie has provided more funding for schools, giving parents more choices on what schools their kids can go to and merit pay for good teachers," O'Neil added. "He's a good man. Excuse me, he's a great man. Please join me in supporting Chris Christie, the governor."
According to a recent Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, the Republican governor leads Democratic challenger Barbara Buono, a relatively unknown state senator, by 26 points heading into the Nov. 5 election.
