ROSWELL, Ga. (AP) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie offered his encouragement to Georgians working to re-elect incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal on Thursday during a visit to the state and promised to be back. <br />
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The Republican Governors Association, chaired by Christie, has dumped about $2.6 million into the tight race between Deal and Democrat Jason Carter, a state senator from Atlanta and former President Jimmy Carter's grandson. Libertarian Andrew Hunt also is on the Nov. 4 ballot. <br />
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Christie and Deal spoke from the steps of the Roswell City Hall, before driving to a nearby street festival where people surrounded Christie asking for photos and urging him toward a presidential run. <br />
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``Appreciate all of you working hard for the old party,'' Christie told a group of Deal campaign staffers and volunteers after posing for a group photo. <br />
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Christie declined any interviews during the stop. <br />
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Democrat Jason Carter told reporters after a campaign event earlier Thursday that Deal has to count on support from outside the state because his record in Georgia is weak. <br />
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``I think you've seen the governor is relying on Washington politics in order to run this race, that kind of politics you get from New Jersey,'' Carter said. ``Again, it puts politics first and people second.'' <br />
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The Democratic Governors Association by comparison has sent $41,000 to the state, but Carter brushed off questions about their financial support. <br />
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``We feel like given the governor's record, and our vision for the state, and the response that we've had across the state so far, and the governor's desperation in a variety of contexts lately, that we're in a very strong position,'' Carter said. ``And we're not waiting for any cavalry to come. We're going to solve the problems here in Georgia.'' <br />
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