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Jersey boys: Springsteen talks with Christie via Air Force One

Bruce Springsteen and President Obama at a campaign rally in Madison, Wis.
(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Imagess)
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DES MOINES — President Obama got another chance to endear himself to apparently former critic GOP Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.

Flying on Air Force One after campaigning in the Midwest on Monday, Obama wrapped up a conversation about super storm Sandy recovery efforts by telling Christie he had someone who wanted to speak to him.

“Governor, this is Bruce,” said the voice on the line. As in Bruce Springsteen.

Christie is a die-hard fan, but the love has largely not been returned by the tried-and-true liberal Springsteen. But the Jersey boys, like Obama and Christie, have found common cause this week as the state tries to rebuild after the devastating storm.

Christie quickly mentioned the call from Springsteen at a news conference Monday. White House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed the account.

Springsteen and his wife, Patti Scialfa, were both on the president’s plane, flying to a campaign event in Ohio as part of a three-state, get-out-the-vote blitz. The president and the Boss sat across from each other at a conference table, Carney said. The two talked about storm recovery efforts.

It was Springsteen’s first trip on Air Force One, he told reporters later, and “it was pretty cool.”

kathleen.hennessey@latimes.com

Twitter: @khennessey

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