Susanne Cervenka, and Bob Jordan

Asbury Park Press

NEPTUNE - Two Republican state lawmakers from Monmouth County and one from Somerset County said Wednesday that Gov. Chris Christie needs to make a choice: Donald Trump or New Jersey.

"If he is going to go on the campaign trail with Donald Trump, he cannot continue to serve as our governor," state Sen. Jennifer Beck, a Republican from Monmouth County, told the Asbury Park Press editorial board. "The governorship of the state of New Jersey is more than a full-time job."

MORE: Star Ledger joins Asbury Park Press in call for Christie to quit

LISTEN::Editorial Page Editor Randy Bergmann discusses editorial calling on Christie to resign on John Gambling radio show (begins at 15.00)

LISTEN: Bergmann discusses Christie editorial on Curtis Sliwa Drive at Five radio show (Select 3-2-16, begins at 17.00)

The Drive at 5 with Curtis Sliwa

Her view was echoed by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth, who said the Republican governor has to decide between serving the Trump campaign or performing his duties for New Jersey.

“He needs to choose. He’s got to choose,’’ Handlin said in a telephone interview. “It was reasonable that he was given a great deal of leeway when he ran for president, because you could argue that New Jersey could benefit if he was elected. But what he’s doing now is completely different.’’

(UPDATE: In a wide-ranging press conference Thursday in Trenton, Christie told reporters that he would not be a full-time surrogate for Trump, that he had no immediate plans to rejoin Trump on the campaign trail, and that he was committed to his duties as governor. Beck released a statement in reply:

“I am pleased that Governor Christie reaffirmed his commitment to invest his time, energy and effort into the serious policy issues that New Jersey faces, and that his time will be spent here in our State.")

READ: 4 things Beck said besides Christie ultimatum

Christie ended his 2016 presidential bid after a poor showing in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary. Days later, on Friday, he endorsed Republican frontrunner Trump at a campaign event in Texas.

Christie spent Super Tuesday campaigning for Trump, starting in Ohio and Kentucky. The day was capped off when thousands of Twitter users were deeply entertained by Christie’s stern, and at times destitute, facial expressions as he stood beside Trump at a Florida rally.

Beck's comments to the editorial board came a day after the Press, as well as its five New Jersey sister papers, issued a stinging editorial calling for Christie to resign, because of his “continuing travel out of state on New Jersey’s dime, stumping for Trump, after finally abandoning his own presidential campaign.’’ The editorial has gone viral; it was picked up by major news organizations across the media landscape – print, television, radio and online.

READ: Christie is the laughing stock of social media

Christie’s reaction? He wasn’t on the job Wednesday and he has no public events scheduled Thursday.

Spokesman Kevin Roberts did not reply to an inquiry on when Christie exactly would be back in New Jersey.

Matthew Hale, a Seton Hall University political scientist, said it’s unlikely Christie can be shamed into showing a greater focus on his job.

“The one constant in Chris Christie's career is that he says and does whatever is best for Chris Christie,’’ Hale said. “That isn't going to change and so we should just expect Christie to be Christie.’’

Meanwhile, poll findings show the Trump endorsement hurt Christie's standing at home.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind Poll released Wednesday showed that Christie's approval rating dropped six percentage points in the days after he backed Trump.

Prior to endorsing Trump, Christie held a 33 percent approval rating. In the days after his surprise announcement Friday, the rating fell to 27 percent.

“Joining forces with Donald Trump was hardly a vehicle for getting voters to reconsider their sour mood toward the governor," pollster Krista Jenkins said.

Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, R- Somerset County, also called for the governor to resign or spend more time performing his gubernatorial duties in New Jersey.

Ciattarelli said Christie should consider resigning if he spends "significant" time outside New Jersey campaigning than on his responsibilities as governor.

Beck said there are too many issues facing New Jersey — school funding, the state's property tax crisis, public employee pension and health benefit reform — that need the governor's leadership to solve. The state Legislature accomplished a lot during Christie's first term because he inserted himself into and drove the conversation, she said.

"We have important issues, like this, that need his leadership. When he was here, we did get a lot done," she said.

READ: Chris Christie skips work again

Beck said her constituents were not happy with Christie being out of New Jersey so much while he was running for president, but could see the benefit for the state if he did become president.

"Going and being a supporter of another candidate, and spending all of your time out of state supporting another candidate, you know, you can't do both," she said.

Beck said she understands the appeal of Trump: voters have watched government inaction for years and see Trump as a candidate who is beholden to no one. But Beck said Trump has neither the temperament nor qualifications to be president.

Beck said she won't stay home on Election Day. When asked if by the editorial board if that meant she would vote for Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton, she replied, "Or a third party candidate."

Handlin said she was surprised Christie moved into the Trump tent last week.

“Shocked,’’ she said.

Handlin said she’s undecided on which candidate to support for the Republican presidential nomination but that it won’t be Trump.

“Donald Trump is not my choice,’’ she said.

It’s not clear if Trump will have the support of the GOP county party organizations for the June 7 New Jersey primary.

The Press reached out to all Republican lawmakers for Monmouth and Ocean counties but didn’t hear back from most of them. Nor did Monmouth County GOP Chairman Shaun Golden, or his Ocean counterpart, George Gilmore, respond to messages.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said of Christie: “I’m not ready to call for his resignation.’’

“I’m not sure at all what role he’s going to play in Donald Trump’s campaign or how substantial that role will be,’’ O’Scanlon said. “He is a very effective leader when he’s engaged and I fully expect him to be engaged. We have to wait and see. He’s one of the most capable people I know and we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am confident he will be balancing out his role in the Trump campaign.’’

O’Scanlon said he isn’t supporting Trump for the party nomination, but if Trump gets the nod, “it will be a different story,’’ he said. “But I’m not ready to endorse anybody yet.’’

Mike Deak contributed

Bob Jordan 609-984-4343, bjordan@gannettnj.com