company.
Instead of jockeying for advantage, the two Northeastern governors — the Republican from blue-state New Jersey and the Democrat from bluer-state New York — have developed an unexpectedly warm working relationship over the past 18 months, marked by occasional dinners and more frequent cell phone contact, aides say. Not coincidentally, both also enjoy approval ratings at the 70-percent level, a novel, post-Hurricane Sandy occurrence for Christie and a nearly two-year constant for Cuomo.
“I think their relationship has been good since Day One,” said Mike DuHaime, a senior adviser to Christie. “I think they’ve governed in a very similar fashion — both very good governors, very competent, very popular. That doesn’t mean they agree on everything, but there’s been a lot of places of mutual interest.”
