(AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley just needs to keep focusing on jobs Connecticut's economy in order to defeat Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in November.



Christie appeared with Foley on Tuesday at a Stamford diner. Afterword both men attended a fundraiser for the state Republican Party.



Christie says he understands what it's like to be a Republican running in a state like Connecticut where there are many Democrats. But he said Malloy should be worried that he's running in a so-called blue state and trailing Foley in a recent poll.



Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie said winning Connecticut and Illinois are "the two most important challenging races in the country."