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Christie Says Parties Need To Work Together
by David Matthau
Friday, November 6, 2009


Chris Christie

After all the votes were counted on election night, many people were shocked that republican Chris Christie had beaten Jon Corzine in several democratic strongholds, including Woodbridge.

Yesterday, the Governor-elect provided another surprise, as he paid a visit to Woodbridge, and walked down Main Street - accompanied by democratic Mayor John McCormac - shaking hands, and thanking residents for their support.

"John McCormac is a democrat, but more importantly, he's a great Mayor" said Christie, "I want to surround myself with people who have success- success begets success…the problems are too big in this state to say there's only republican answers or democratic answers - they're simply too big for that to be the orthodoxy of the future."

He added "I want to lean on people who have a record of success- for their advice and their counsel- and I don't care whether they put an R or a D, or anything else after their name…I'm going to be working to get along with everybody, to try and build consensus and get results - I'll fight when I have to fight…but I'd rather get results without a fight if I can."

 




Corzine & Obama, BFF's
by David Matthau
Friday, November 6, 2009

For the past several months, while he was campaigning for re-election, Governor Corzine was constantly talking about his close personal friendship with President Obama, and how the two were partners, working together to make things better in Jersey.

But with Corzine losing the election, the Chief Executive may have a new "B-F-F" in the Garden State.

Governor-elect Chris Christie says the President called after the final votes were tallied, "and asked to speak to me- we talked about those things that we have in common - we talked about merit pay for teachers, and more charter schools…I told him that I'm looking forward to working with him- we had a great conversation."

Christie says the two leaders also talked about the campaign, and "I said I understood that he came in here to support a friend - Jon Corzine is a friend of his - and he also came in to support his party…the President confirmed to me there's no hard feelings from him, and there's certainly no hard feelings from me - and I'm ready to work with him- and he told me that I would be invited to the White House at some point in the near future."

He adds "I just don't believe that I'm going to have a problem dealing on a personal level with the folks in the opposite party."

 

 


Gubernatorial Debate #2



Corzine Is First In Two Decades To Refuse NJ 101.5 Debate
Thursday, September 17, 2009


Jon Corzine
Click here for Corzine's comments to David Matthau

For the first time in almost 20 years, a candidate running for
statewide office in Jersey has refused to participate in debate on New Jersey 101.5.

Governor Jon Corzine has turned thumbs down on the event - which gives listeners the chance to speak to the candidates about the issues they are most concerned about.

During an event in Union, the Governor was asked why he decided to skip the Millennium Radio debate - and its millions of listeners - in favor of an appearance on a smaller, public radio jazz station in North Jersey.

Corzine replied "cause we're doing a debate through the public broadcasting group of radio stations, which will get at the same number of people."

When the Governor was asked if he didn't like New Jersey 101.5, he said "I love the station! We also like public broadcasting."

Corzine was then told many voters would be disappointed if he ducked the Millennium Radio debate, and he shot back "a lot of people will be encouraged because we're using public broadcasting."

Some political observers suggest the Governor might be concerned he wouldn't do well in the Millennium Radio debate format - because the candidates are allowed to question each other, and follow up on statements made by their opponents - so he's decided to skip it.

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie continues to lead in all the recent polls.

 

Letter from Corzine Campaign Declining Debate Invitation
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Statement from New Jersey 101.5's Eric Scott

The following statement was released by Eric Scott, News Director for New Jersey 101.5, on Governor Corzine’s refusal to participate in a debate to be aired on the station: 

“Just this morning, I received a letter dated September 9, 2009, from Corzine Campaign Manager Maggie Moran declining our invitation to host a Gubernatorial debate.

Jon Corzine has now become the first candidate for statewide office in almost 20-years to turn his back on our one-million listeners by refusing to  appear on New Jersey 101.5 to talk directly to New Jersey voters about the issues that are important to them.  

New Jersey 101.5 is the most listened to radio station in the state.  Our political forums have won praise from both state and national media.  The Star-Ledger recently wrote of the “Ritual the (NJ 101.5) debate has become in New Jersey politics.” 

As a candidate for the U-S Senate and again as a candidate for Governor, Jon Corzine participated in multiple programs and debates on our station. 
In this election, however, Jon Corzine appears to have made the strategic decision to pretend that we simply do not exist. 

It should be noted that this is the first communication from the Corzine Campaign on this matter since our invitation was extended in July.”