Response by Rick Thigpen

Clearly, managing the people's money is the overwhelming priority of the voters this year. Not only did 60% of the voters specifically state that property taxes are their first or second priority, if you add in the related issue of corruption and then concerns about the economy and the affordability of health care, it is clear that the 2005 gubernatorial election will be about money. Unfortunately for Doug Forrester, he is running against a Democratic candidate who is a world-class expert on finances and financial matters. That is why, notwithstanding the heavy priority Republicans have traditionally placed on taxes and the priority that Doug Forrester has placed on property taxes, he is still losing to Jon Corzine among voters who choose property taxes as their top priority.

One would have to be blind not to recognize the potential Democratic vulnerability on these issues. Demonstrating that he is the right candidate at the right time, Jon Corzine has converted this potential Democratic weakness into strength. Additionally, the poll demonstrates that on a series of important personal characteristics Corzine consistently runs well ahead of Forrester.

With Forrester unable to match Corzine's professional expertise and personal characteristics, one would expect that the Republicans would turn decidedly to negative campaigning out of desperation. Is there a parental control button that can be used for political advertising? Let's see how low they will be willing to go .

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Academic Associate, Rick Thigpen (J.D., Columbia University Law School). Rick is a former Executive Director of the New Jersey Democratic Party and now a partner in The Strategy Group and is a campaign coordinator for the Essex County Democratic Party. Rick Thigpen, Esq. can be reached at (609) 394-0888.