Former United States attorney Chris Christie captured the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nomination Tuesday night setting the stage for what will be a closely-watched general election battle with the states vulnerable Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
Christie surged past his chief rival Steve Lonegan a former northern New Jersey mayor as the contentious primary season came to an end. With 97 percent of precincts reporting Christie led 55 percent compared to 42 percent for Lonegan. State Assemblyman Rick Merkt a Republican who represents a district in Morris County finished far behind both of his rivals with 2 percent of the vote.
During the race Lonegan staked out solidly conservative positions that threatened to erode some of Christies support among the states Republican voters but Christies establishment backing as well as his superior fundraising helped him over the finish line.
At a victory rally on Tuesday night Christie wasted no time in turning his attention to Corzine who is seeking a second term as governor.
I think hes a good man and I think hes well intentioned but he is simply wrong for this job" Christie said. For the past four years Jon Corzine has made bad choices choices that have plunged New Jersey deeper into debt increased the tax burden on working families and driven business across our borders to Pennsylvania Delaware and even New York. That is unacceptable."
Recent polls showing Corzine trailing Christie in a general election matchup combined with the incumbent governors slumping approval ratings have given Republicans hope that they could use the New Jersey race as a springboard to a national comeback in the 2010 midterm elections.
Corzine who faced no serious opposition in the Democratic primary which was also held on Tuesday cruised to an overwhelming victory nabbing 77 percent of the vote. But even as Christie celebrated his election night win battle lines were already being drawn by the governor who appeared at a campaign kick-off rally Tuesday night with Vice President Joe Biden.
I want to thank Democrats across New Jersey for putting their faith in me. I will not let you down" Corzine said. The next 153 days and whos counting wont be that easy New Jersey politics never is."
But Corzine assured his supporters We will prevail."
In his remarks at the event in West Orange Corzine said that New Jersey voters would face a very clear choice between very different sets of values and very different visions for the future" when they go to the polls in November.
If elected Christie promised to be a champion of smaller smarter and more efficient" government and to bring jobs and business back to the state. Christie also stressed his readiness to go head-to-head with Corzine who he accused of spending an unprecedented amount money on negative personal smear ads" in previous campaigns.
In a Research 2000/Daily Kos poll released last week Christie led Corzine 46 percent to 39 percent while 15 percent of voters were undecided. More than half of those surveyed 55 percent gave Corzine an unfavorable rating with just 36 percent viewing him favorably. Another nine percent had no opinion.
But even Republicans acknowledge that Christie could face an uphill fight in New Jersey. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state and a Republican has not won statewide office there for 12 years. The election will also test the strength of the coattails of President Barack Obama who won New Jersey handily in 2008.
If the posturing Tuesday night was any indication the race is likely to be a contentious one and the Republican push to unseat Corzine is already well underway. The Republican Governors Association has been sponsoring television and radio ads attacking the governor for allowing unemployment and taxes to increase on his watch.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele also weighed in saying that Christies candidacy offers New Jersey Republicans and Democrats alike the chance to break with Jon Corzines failed Wall Street policies and once again make New Jerseys cities and small towns engines for economic growth."
Lonegan the former mayor of Bogota pledged to get behind Christie telling supporters who gathered in East Brunswick that he would do everything he could to help move the Republican Party towards victory in November.
Unlike the more moderate Christie Lonegan built his campaign on a thoroughly conservative foundation supporting a flat tax and a loosening of rules on gun ownership while opposing abortion rights. The two candidates fought bitterly during the primary trading attacks on the stump in advertisements.
The volleys between them in the waning days of the primary became noticeably more intense. Lonegan criticized Christie for being the darling of the Republican establishment in New Jersey and for importing high-profile surrogates like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney both 2008 presidential candidates to lend their support. Meanwhile Christie laced into Lonegan over his flat tax proposal which he said end up hurting the vast majority of New Jersey residents.
Christie who stepped down from his position as a federal prosecutor last November established a reputation for rooting out political corruption a record that Christie seems unlikely to let Corzine forget.
John Corzine endorsed me as U.S. attorney and endorsed everything I did over the last 7 years" Christie told a throng of cheering supporters on Tuesday.
For his part Corzine offered hints about his general election strategy seeking in his speech earlier in the evening to associate his Republicans rivals with their unpopular former president.
Our opponents promise the moon" Corzine said. They want to cut government increase spending slash taxes and balance the budget. Theyve got this so-called secret plan. They wont tell you whose taxes theyre going to cut -- theyre going to check with George Bush about that."
Former United States attorney Chris Christie captured the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nomination Tuesday night setting the stage for what will be a closely-watched general election battle with the states vulnerable Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
Christie surged past his chief rival Steve Lonegan a former northern New Jersey mayor as the contentious primary season came to an end. With 97 percent of precincts reporting Christie led 55 percent compared to 42 percent for Lonegan. State Assemblyman Rick Merkt a Republican who represents a district in Morris County finished far behind both of his rivals with 2 percent of the vote.
During the race Lonegan staked out solidly conservative positions that threatened to erode some of Christies support among the states Republican voters but Christies establishment backing as well as his superior fundraising helped him over the finish line.
At a victory rally on Tuesday night Christie wasted no time in turning his attention to Corzine who is seeking a second term as governor.
I think hes a good man and I think hes well intentioned but he is simply wrong for this job" Christie said. For the past four years Jon Corzine has made bad choices choices that have plunged New Jersey deeper into debt increased the tax burden on working families and driven business across our borders to Pennsylvania Delaware and even New York. That is unacceptable."
Recent polls showing Corzine trailing Christie in a general election matchup combined with the incumbent governors slumping approval ratings have given Republicans hope that they could use the New Jersey race as a springboard to a national comeback in the 2010 midterm elections.
Corzine who faced no serious opposition in the Democratic primary which was also held on Tuesday cruised to an overwhelming victory nabbing 77 percent of the vote. But even as Christie celebrated his election night win battle lines were already being drawn by the governor who appeared at a campaign kick-off rally Tuesday night with Vice President Joe Biden.
I want to thank Democrats across New Jersey for putting their faith in me. I will not let you down" Corzine said. The next 153 days and whos counting wont be that easy New Jersey politics never is."
But Corzine assured his supporters We will prevail."
In his remarks at the event in West Orange Corzine said that New Jersey voters would face a very clear choice between very different sets of values and very different visions for the future" when they go to the polls in November.
If elected Christie promised to be a champion of smaller smarter and more efficient" government and to bring jobs and business back to the state. Christie also stressed his readiness to go head-to-head with Corzine who he accused of spending an unprecedented amount money on negative personal smear ads" in previous campaigns.
In a Research 2000/Daily Kos poll released last week Christie led Corzine 46 percent to 39 percent while 15 percent of voters were undecided. More than half of those surveyed 55 percent gave Corzine an unfavorable rating with just 36 percent viewing him favorably. Another nine percent had no opinion.
But even Republicans acknowledge that Christie could face an uphill fight in New Jersey. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state and a Republican has not won statewide office there for 12 years. The election will also test the strength of the coattails of President Barack Obama who won New Jersey handily in 2008.
If the posturing Tuesday night was any indication the race is likely to be a contentious one and the Republican push to unseat Corzine is already well underway. The Republican Governors Association has been sponsoring television and radio ads attacking the governor for allowing unemployment and taxes to increase on his watch.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele also weighed in saying that Christies candidacy offers New Jersey Republicans and Democrats alike the chance to break with Jon Corzines failed Wall Street policies and once again make New Jerseys cities and small towns engines for economic growth."
Lonegan the former mayor of Bogota pledged to get behind Christie telling supporters who gathered in East Brunswick that he would do everything he could to help move the Republican Party towards victory in November.
Unlike the more moderate Christie Lonegan built his campaign on a thoroughly conservative foundation supporting a flat tax and a loosening of rules on gun ownership while opposing abortion rights. The two candidates fought bitterly during the primary trading attacks on the stump in advertisements.
The volleys between them in the waning days of the primary became noticeably more intense. Lonegan criticized Christie for being the darling of the Republican establishment in New Jersey and for importing high-profile surrogates like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney both 2008 presidential candidates to lend their support. Meanwhile Christie laced into Lonegan over his flat tax proposal which he said end up hurting the vast majority of New Jersey residents.
Christie who stepped down from his position as a federal prosecutor last November established a reputation for rooting out political corruption a record that Christie seems unlikely to let Corzine forget.
John Corzine endorsed me as U.S. attorney and endorsed everything I did over the last 7 years" Christie told a throng of cheering supporters on Tuesday.
For his part Corzine offered hints about his general election strategy seeking in his speech earlier in the evening to associate his Republicans rivals with their unpopular former president.
Our opponents promise the moon" Corzine said. They want to cut government increase spending slash taxes and balance the budget. Theyve got this so-called secret plan. They wont tell you whose taxes theyre going to cut -- theyre going to check with George Bush about that."
