N.J. Debate Reveals Weaknesses Of Incumbent, Main Challenger

TRENTON, N.J .

Thursday's first debate in the fiercely contested New Jersey gubernatorial campaign more than lived up to expectations. The 90-minute encounter not only showed why Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine is in so much trouble, it also underscored the obstacles that still lie in the path of Republican challenger Chris Christie.

New Jersey is one of two gubernatorial contests this fall that will be closely -- perhaps excessively -- analyzed for clues to the national mood a year after Barack Obama was elected president. The other is in Virginia, between Republican Robert M. McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds. The incumbents are Democrats but they are trailing in polls, though the gap has narrowed in both states.

Virginia may be a better barometer of the public mood than New Jersey, given the commonwealth's significance in Obama's election last year and the absence of an incumbent in the race. Although both races are focused largely on state issues, the New Jersey contest has been all about the embattled incumbent.

Corzine is the former Goldman Sachs chief executive who spent lavishly from his personal fortune to become, first, a U.S. senator and then, in 2005, New Jersey's governor. After four years in Trenton, he is deeply unpopular.

The effects of the weak economy, bruising budget battles, his decision to raise taxes and his unpolished political skills put him on the endangered list as the campaign began. Given that record, he has reverted to a time-honored strategy of trying to discredit his opponent. He is spending millions on negative ads doing just that.

Corzine has trailed in the polls all year, and his defensiveness showed on Thursday. Christie hammered him, arguing that the governor has raised taxes too much and cut spending too little. "The people of New Jersey are suffering," he said. "They are suffocating under these taxes." Corzine accused Christie of making up his facts.

New Jersey voters appear in a sour mood, and one of the most telling moments in the debate came when citizens, on videotape, got to ask questions. One segment focused on taxes, including the high property taxes. The voters' anger was palpable. "Taxes are skyrocketing and out of control," complained one person. Another said: "The taxes in New Jersey are the highest in the country." The clip could easily have been an ad from Christie's campaign.

If the race turned only on Corzine's record, he would probably lose. But Christie has vulnerabilities as well. He is a former U.S. attorney who made his reputation prosecuting politicians of both parties, and he has used those skills to prosecute the case against the incumbent. But he has yet to offer a credible plan to solve the budget woes.

The next governor will face a budget deficit estimated at $8 billion. Christie has pledged he will not raise taxes, but cannot say how he would balance the budget without new revenue. He has identified possible areas, to cut but they fall short of what is necessary to get the job done. Corzine and independent candidate Chris Daggett scoffed at Christie's remedies.

"Mr. Christie has no plan," Corzine said. "It's a fantasy." Daggett, who would cut some taxes but also significantly expand the state sales tax, chimed in: "It's easy to criticize when you have no plan of your own. . . . The tooth fairy is not going to come to solve this problem."

Corzine has not limited his attacks to Christie's fiscal plans, pummeling his opponent on ethics and health care. The toughest ads charged that Christie's health-care proposals would deny women coverage for mammograms. In the debate, Christie called the ads "shameful" and demanded that Corzine take them down. Because the ads have worked, Corzine demurred. "I'd rather stand with the women of New Jersey than I would the insurance companies," he said.