New Jersey governor and GOP rising superstar Chris Christie is throwing his support behind Republican Bob Ehrlich for governor of Maryland at a high-brow fundraiser this week, The Washington Examiner has learned.

Christie’s brash, no-nonsense governing style has caught national attention since he won the governorship in 2009, and his endorsement could offer Ehrlich a much-needed boost in the deeply Democratic state of Maryland, campaign analysts say.

Christie will attend a fundraiser with Ehrlich on Saturday at a private home in Reisterstown, where tickets are ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.

Ehrlich spokesman Andy Barth said the event will be closed to reporters. Christie’s office would not comment on the endorsement.