Christie Knew of Bin Laden Death Before Announcement

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received word about the death of Osama bin Laden 90 minutes before it was publicly announced, the governor said Friday.

Christie said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called him Sunday to break the news to him of Bin Laden's death.

Christie said Napolitano told him that President Barack Obama felt the governor should be given advance notice because of the number of New Jerseyans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; nearly one-quarter of those who died were New Jersey residents.

Christie was at a New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies baseball game when word of Bin Laden's death hit the news, and fans who read it on their phones began chanting ``U-S-A! U-S-A!''

Speaking Friday on New York sports radio station WFAN, where the governor was a guest co-host on the ``Boomer and Carton Show,'' he praised Obama's Thursday appearance at ground zero.

“It was done very well, he didn't showboat. He went and spoke to the families and first responders,” said Christie, who joined the president during the wreath laying ceremony.

Obama met with firefighters, then police, before having a solemn moment at ground zero and meeting privately with families of those who died.

“He's had a very good week. He's been very presidential,” host Craig Carton said.

“When you make tough decisions and they turn out well, you look like a president,” Christie replied.

Christie’s wife, Mary Pat, is a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald _ the financial firm that lost more than 650 employees, or two-thirds of its work force, in the World Trade Center attack.

She was two blocks from the twin towers when the attack occurred.

Christie's brother was also working at the New York Stock Exchange at the time and both had to find a way out of the city after the buildings came down.

The day before the attacks, Christie was appointed U.S. Attorney by President George W. Bush.