Christie Co-Hosts “Today” to Promote Post-Sandy NJ Shore

The White House announced President Obama would tour the shore with Christie next week to assess Sandy progress post-Memorial Day

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has cut a ribbon to symbolically reopen the state's shore for the summer season, seven months after being devastated by Sandy.

He appeared live on NBC's "Today" show to do the cutting Friday in Seaside Heights.

The ribbon was five-miles long, stretching through parts of what's known as the northern barrier island in Ocean County.

Several New Jersey beach communities have annual beach ribbon cuttings, announcing they are back in business. But this year's ceremonies are more poignant seven months after a storm that did an estimated $37 billion of damage in the state. 

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Some Democrats are complaining that Christie, a Republican, is promoting the shore as a way to promote himself as he seeks re-election this year. They take aim especially at a $25 million federally funded ad campaign for the shore. Christie and his family appear in a TV commercial as part of the campaign. He has said that not being in the ad because of fears of political criticism would have been a mistake.

The White House announced that President Barack Obama will tour the coastline with Christie on Tuesday.

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