TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's Democratic Senate leader says Republican Gov. Chris Christie may have "prayed" for Superstorm Sandy to hit because it has given him cover for his failed economic policies.

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Senate President Stephen Sweeney says Christie's jobs plan before the late October storm was a disaster and now the reconstruction will provide an economic boost through thousands of construction jobs.

The storm killed people in 10 states but hit New York and New Jersey the hardest, flooding neighborhoods and destroying homes.

Sweeney said at a Monday press conference he guesses Christie "prayed a lot and got lucky because a storm came." The state's most powerful elected Democrat immediately apologized for his remark.

Republicans call Sweeney's comment "way out of line."

The South Jersey lawmaker also said at the event he's thinking about getting into the governor's race.