NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has jumped into politics with an ad endorsing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for re-election.
The four-time NBA champion appears in a new 30-second TV ad for the Garden State's GOP governor where he hits on the usual political talking points jobs, programs for kids and education.
"I don't endorse many politicians. But Chris Christie is different," O'Neal said. "He's working with me to bring jobs back to our cities, and on a new program to help kids in tough neighborhoods get ahead. Governor Christie's provided more funding for schools, given parent more choices in what schools their kids can go to, and merit pay for good teachers."
O'Neal is a native of Newark and credits the local Boys and Girls Club with keeping him on the right path.
"He's a good man. Excuse me; he's a great man," O'Neal said before asking voters to join him in supporting the 51-year-old for a second term as New Jersey's governor on Nov. 5.
According to the CBS News, the endorsement will have virtually no impact on the governor's race, as Christie is all but certain to win. The latest Quinnipiac poll from earlier this month showed him ahead of Democratic State Sen. Barbara Buono by nearly 30 points.
In 2012, O'Neal endorsed President Barack Obama in his re-election campaign. That same year, he endorsed Carmen Trutanich in the Los Angeles district attorney's race; Trutanich finished third in the race and was voted out as Los Angeles City Attorney in 2013.
O'Neal played in the NBA for nearly two decades before his retirement in 2011.
