Obama In Asbury Park: 'Work is Not Over'

The message from President Obama and Governor Christie was clear: The Jersey Shore is back and open for business, but there is more work to be done.

"I came back to let people know we're going to keep going until the job is done," Obama said Tuesday in a short speech to a crowd of more than 2,000 who gathered along the boardwalk and beachfront in Asbury Park.

"When I was here Sandy had just hit, but you kept going ... the Jersey Shore is back in business, but the work is not over," Obama said, recalling the storm that caused billions in damages.

Obama also said his visit should send a message to the people of Oklahoma, as they struggle to recover from the tornadoes that ripped through the region last week, that the government will continue to help them as they recover as well.

In announcing Obama's visit, Christie noted that he made a point to the president that work remains to be done at the Shore, as the two toured different beach-area towns this morning.

Christie also addressed the critics over Obama's visit after Sandy, shortly before Obama's relection, who claimed that Christie's embrace of Obama may have hurt Romney's chances in the Presidential election.

“Our citizens’ lives are more important than any kind of politics,” said Christie.

Before visiting Asbury Park, Christie and President Obama stopped in where the president said they played "Frog Bog."  

"Governor Christie’s kids taught me the right technique getting those frogs in the buckets the way I was supposed to," President Obama said, to laughs.

President Obama checked out a record-breaking sand castle, recieved a stuffed, brown bear after playing a football boardwalk game and high fived lots of kids while he made a short visit to Point Pleasant Beach on his way to speak in Asbury Park.

The governor also remarked on the rainy and cool weather, noting: "Asbury Park is a great place to be, whether it is raining or not."

Eileen and Emily Bowker, of the Holgate section of Long Beach Island, agreed with that sentiment, saying that the cooler weather could not keep them away from what they said was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

The Bowkers rebuilt their business on Long Beach Island entirely through volunteer efforts, and they said that they were pleased that the President acknowledged work remains to be done.

"It's pretty cool to see the President back, and that he knows that there is still mroe to do," said Emily Bowker. "Being from Holgate, you can see people are still working to get things back and things are still pretty emotional there."