Sweeney Says Christie May Have ‘Prayed’ for Hurricane

New Jersey's Democratic Senate leader says Gov. Chris Christie may have "prayed" for Superstorm Sandy because it has given him cover for what he says are the governor's failed economic policies.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney says the Republican governor's jobs plan before Sandy was a disaster and now the reconstruction will provide an economic boost through thousands of construction jobs.

At a news conference Monday, Sweeney said, "I guess he prayed a lot and got lucky because a storm came."

The state's most powerful elected Democrat immediately apologized for the remark.

Republicans called the comment "way out of line."

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

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)