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| Analysis: Do New Jersey voters have two options or three? |
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By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press Writer
WAYNE (AP) — It’s becoming one of the main questions in the gubernatorial election: Do voters have two options or three?
In the second and final televised debate before the Nov. 3 election, Republican Chris Christie, Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine and Independent Chris Daggett went after each other in various measures.
Polls have shown Christie’s lead, which was more than 10 percentage points most of the summer, has eroded so far that he’s in an even race with Corzine. But Corzine’s share of support has not moved much: It’s Daggett’s that has grown.
That has made for a more complex election — and Friday’s debate showed as much.
Daggett, whose name recognition is still low, is doing his best to persuade the state that a vote for him will not be wasted.
“For the first time ever, you have a real choice for governor,” he said as he opened the debate at William Paterson University.
He criticized both major parties and their candidates about equally — and often in the same breath.
“You deserve as voters more than a failed plan from the Democrats or no plan from the Republicans,” he said.
Christie also went on the offensive, portraying the other two candidates as tax-happy. Probably his sharpest response of the night was directed at Daggett, but it was provoked as the two quarreled over their tax plans.
Daggett said Christie’s proposed tax cuts and spending increases won’t balance the budget.
“I’ve got to buy you a calculator, Mr. Christie, because your numbers don’t add up,” he said.
Christie responded by attacking Daggett’s plan to add sales taxes on more services and use the revenue mostly to cut property taxes, among the highest in the nation.
“I’d be more than happy to take Mr. Daggett’s calculator,” he said. “I’m going to have to get you a dictionary. Only you could take a $4 billion tax increase and call it a tax cut.”
But by turns, he carefully omitted any mention of Daggett’s candidacy.
“We have two very different choices,” he said in his closing statement. “We have a choice of saying: Do we want a state that’s continuing on the road we’re on?”
If there was anything unclear about whom he saw as the other choice, he resolved it speaking to reporters after the debate: “This race is between me and Jon Corzine,” he said. “One of the two of us is going to be the governor of the state of New Jersey.”
In the first debate two weeks ago, Corzine was encouraging — maybe patronizing — about Daggett’s presence. Then, he gave him kudos for coming up with a tax plan, also a handy way of criticizing Christie for offering fewer specifics.
In the second debate, with Daggett established as more than a curiosity, Corzine didn’t treat him as warmly, mostly ignoring him.
Corzine answered nearly every question defending his record and talking about key Democratic issues such as abortion rights rather than going after either opponent, but the venom he had was reserved for Christie, characterizing him as someone who would give tax breaks to big businesses and the very wealthy amid a recession.
After spending the 90-minute forum asking for support, he was asked why he focused on Christie more than Daggett. His answer reflected a man who wouldn’t mind having the voters think they have three options.
“I’m not going to try to tell the people of the state of New Jersey who to vote for,” he said.
Created: 10/17/2009 | Updated: 10/17/2009
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