NEW YORK, NY January 31, 2008 —Several New Jersey Republican officials are following the lead of their former favorite, Rudy Giuliani, and endorsing John McCain for president. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

Leading the pack of Rudy supporters crossing over to McCain is Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Junior. The younger Kean joins the ranks of the McCain campaign, of which his father, former governor Tom Kean Senior was a member.

McCain's high profile split with the Bush presidency and his own Republican party on a wide range of issues including immigration and the war in Iraq was a good fit for the elder Kean.

The former governor who led the 9/11 Commission has been a consistent critique of the Bush administration.

Today's convergence of the McCain and Giuliani camps creates an uphill climb for Mitt Romney, especially in a state that permits independents to weigh in come primary day.