The Triangle

Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Daggett Campaign

Media Credit: Christie Campaign

The latest Rasmussen poll, reported Oct. 27, places Republican challenger Chris Christie 3 percentage points ahead of incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in the race for New Jersey governor. Christie has 46 percent of the vote to Corzine's 43 percent, followed by independent, Chris Daggett's 7 percent points. 4 percent of likely voters remain "not sure" for whom they are voting.

This is the first time New Jersey will also be electing a lieutenant governor. In particular, Republicans, including Chairman Michael Steele, have marked both the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections as key 2009 elections. This past summer, Christie was ahead by as much as 15 percent in polling, however, Corzine has been successful in closing the gap and obtaining a majority in previous October polls.

"Right now my vote is undecided, I know I will be voting, however, I want to hear both candidates sound off on important issues that concern New Jersey voters," Jonathan Finch, a senior majoring in history, said. Finch indicated that taxes and getting New Jersey out of its deficit.

According to a February article in the Philadelphia Business Journal, Corzine announced the state's deficit had grown and required $3.6 million in budget cuts.

Despite certain facts, the election for governor has been marked by a number of negative ads coming from both parties. According to Factcheck.org, both Christie and Corzine's campaigns has assorted the other had not paid income taxes.

Fact Check's article indicates both sides' ads also fail to report the full details of each tax discrepancy. Where Corzine did not pay in 2008 because of a 2007 credit, Christie failed to report income he received from the interest on a loan he gave to an assistant U.S. attorney.

"It was certainly nothing that I was trying to conceal or hide," Christie said.

Another ad by the Corzine campaign features Christie emerging from a car with a narrator asserting that the republican candidate "threw his weight around." On CNN, Corzine stated the ad was not to point out Christie's weight but "special treatment" he received as a federal prosecutor.

"Both of them do their share of mudslinging," Finch said, "They seem to be preaching more or less the same thing."

Regarding the poll numbers, the college republican indicated that most governors are reelected, but discussed the governor's recent poll numbers.

"John Corzine has done such a poor job as to receive higher unfavorable ratings," Hess said.

Voting takes place in New Jersey Nov. 3. The candidates for lieutenant governor include Loretta Weinberg, (D-N.J.), Kim Guadagno, (R-N.J.), and Frank Esposito, Independent.

The Drexel Dems were unavailable for comment.

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