Shaquille O'Neal Endorses Chris Christie for Governor

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appears to have a comfortable lead in his re-election bid, but he still scored a major endorsement in Newark native Shaquille O’Neal.

"I don’t endorse many politicians. But Chris Christie is different," the NBA legend says in a television ad released on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.

"He’s working with me to bring jobs back to our cities and on a new program to help kids in tough neighborhoods get ahead," O'Neal said. "Governor Christie’s provided more funding for schools, given parents more choices in what schools their kids can go to, and merit pay for good teachers. He’s a good man. Excuse me, he’s a great man. Please join me in supporting Chris Christie–the Governor."

Christie is also seen as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president in 2016. He has been popular in the traditionally blue state, and according to a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, 53 percent of non-white voters approve of Christie’s job performance. He leads Democrat Barbara Buono among non-white voters by an eight-point margin.

Christie has received support from 25 prominent African-American elected officials and pastors and 52 Democratic politicos, The Daily Beast reports. A big reason for that support has been his support for school choice and The Opportunity Scholarship Act, which would have helped low-income students leave failing public schools. Democrats quashed the bill.