Response by Rick Thigpen

The opposition party has its work cut out if they are going to get voters to focus their anger on Democrats. The poll reminds us that people only support increases in taxes they don’t pay and are reluctant to pay for programs they want. The poll also reminds us that consulting public opinion will only be somewhat helpful in making the tough choices to balance our state budget. It’s going to be a tough job to master both the policy and the politics if we’re going to put our state back on sound fiscal ground. If the voters’ attention remains fixed on finances, then Jon Corzine will stand head and shoulders above the rest.

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.