Gov. Chris Christie invoked President Barack Obama's visit to New Jersey after superstorm Sandy to defend Donald Trump's visit to flood-ravaged Louisiana.

“Mr. Trump and [his vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike] Pence have shown true leadership by visiting those devastated by the flooding in Louisiana. By bringing attention and aid to those affected, Mr. Trump has led by example and shown what we have come to expect from our nation’s leaders," Christie said in a statement issued by the Trump campaign.

Trump and Pence toured Baton Rouge where 13 people have died.

President Obama, who has been vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, announced on Friday after Trump's visit that he would visit next week.

Richard Carbo, spokesman for Gov. John Bel Edwards, said Trump was welcome to Louisiana, "but not for a photo-op." Instead, Carbo proposed Trump "consider volunteering or making a sizable donation to the LA Flood Relief Fund to help the victims of this storm."

Christie said that "President Obama should do what we did in New Jersey; put politics aside and put the victims first."

"The president could do so by finally getting to Louisiana personally, aiding the victims and telling Gov. Edwards that partisan politics has no role in disaster relief. The people of Louisiana deserve nothing less from the president.”

Sandy, which hit New Jersey a week before the 2012 presidential election, led Christie to cancel his appearances for candidate Mitt Romney to focus on storm relief efforts including a pre-election rally at a farm minutes from New Jersey in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Christie welcomed Obama with an embrace as the two toured damage from Sandy. The embrace was met with scorn by some Republicans, who thought Christie was helping to put the president in a good light so close to the election at the expense of their party's challenger.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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