Former NJ governor Brendan Byrne takes a punch during mugging in London

It’s getting rough out there for New Jersey’s political warhorses. First Frank Lautenberg takes a tumble at home, an now comes a report that former Gov. Brendan Byrne was punched in the face and mugged on the way to the theater in London with his wife.

Jerry DeMarco

02/16/2010 7:43 p.m.

But Byrne, 85, didn’t go down, and the thug was immediately snatched by the local gendarmes. Treated at the scene, the former governor took the standing eight count and passed on going to the hospital.

The NJ political legend took tougher shots than that from the Legislature

Byrne is vacationing with his wife, Ruthi. They’re due back Saturday.

“Some nut came out of the blue and punched me in the jaw, and was immediately arrested,” he told nj.com.

“I think I’m alright. I have some cuts on my face. I have a headache and a sore face. Sore lips.”

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