Christie reunites with Obama at White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie is reuniting with President Barack Obama for the first time since the pair teamed up in response to Superstorm Sandy.

Christie made an unannounced visit Thursday to the White House, where he met with Obama to press for $83 billion in extra disaster aid for his state plus New York and Connecticut.

Obama is expected to ask Congress for about $50 billion in additional emergency aid for 11 states struck by the late October storm.

Christie made a similar pitch to a fellow Republican, House Speaker John Boehner, later at the Capitol.

The New Jersey governor might seek the presidency himself in 2016. His warm praise of Obama’s handling of the storm so close to last month’s election drew fire some fellow Republicans.