TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Chris Christie says his praise of President Barack Obama's visit to the Jersey Shore after Hurricane Sandy and his smackdown last week of House Speaker John Boehner for delaying a vote on a $60.4 billion storm-aid package are part of the job.

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The Republican has earned near-universal praise for his handling of the natural disaster. But some within his party call him out for embracing the Democratic president and hurling angry words at a fellow Republican.

Christie tells The Associated Press in an interview that the storm and its aftermath should transcend politics.

He says he praised the president because Obama was on the front lines helping New Jersey, and he called out the speaker after 66 days had elapsed without Congress acting on the aid package.