Steve Lonegan and Paul DiGaetano weren’t always mortal political enemies.

A former Assembly Majority Leader, DiGaetano backed Lonegan over Gov. Chris Christie in the 2009 GOP Primary for Governor.

But it was when both Lonegan and DiGaetano both ran for governor in 2005 that the latter expressed more than simply passing enthusiasm for his rival.

During the 2005 Republican Gubernatorial Debates, the Republicans were discussing the possibility of the state getting a Lt Governor when one of the moderators asked DiGaetano who he would pick as his Lieutenant Governor.

DiGaetano said Lonegan, because Lonegan was funny.