The Press of Atlantic City, which supported Democrat Jon Corzine when he ran for governor four years ago, has endorsed Republican Christopher Christie. 

"Chris Christie earned his reputation as an effective and energetic corruption-buster. We believe he would make an effective governor as well - one who would bring some fiscal sanity to state government, one who would set a no-nonsense tone in Trenton, and who would protect and nurture Atlantic City's economic health in these precarious times," the editorial said.  "We endorsed Corzine during the last race, but his term has been a disappointment. He has been less than effective in dealing with the Legislature. He has strived, too weakly at times, for fiscal prudence - putting more money into pension accounts during his first two years than other governors, trying to lower state debt, trying to match spending with recurring revenues. But those attempts ultimately buckled under the weight of the state's fiscal problems, compounded by the recession.

Independent Christopher Daggett, the newspaper says, would keep the door open to expanded gambling in the state.