President Obama next week will join New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine for a rally at Rutgers.

Corzine faces a tough reelection bid this fall, when just two states (New Jersey and Virginia) hold gubernatorial elections. 

The endorsement is likely to give the governor a boost, though Corzine had been a fervent supporter of then-Sen. Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primary.

Corzine blogged in a note to supporters that he considers the president "a close friend" and...