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Buono Defends Her Pick For Lieutenant Governor

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono is defending her pick for a running mate after a Republican official criticized it as "like picking my secretary."

Buono says Hudson County GOP chairman Jose Arango's comments are "wildly sexist." She called on Gov. Chris Christie to ask Arango to resign.

The Democrat says Arango should "remember the mothers and sisters and daughters across New Jersey who deserve better than his condescension and disrespect."

Arango issued an apology Wednesday night, stating his comments were not meant to disrespect women.

In an interview with Politicker NJ, Argano bashed Buono's choice of Milly Silva, the vice president of a Service Employees International Union. He calls her a "poor thing" and a "great person" who isn't well known or qualified.

He says Silva was picked "because they couldn't find anyone else."

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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