Candidates Question Each Other in NJ Gov Debate

In their second debate, New Jersey Gubernatorial candidates Doug Forrester and Jon Corzine peppered each other with questions. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

Polls show the governor's race is nearly neck-and-neck, and last night was the first time the two men were allowed to ask each other questions as part of a debate.

Democrat Jon Corzine probed his opponent on whether his prescription drug company ripped off its customers by pocketing rebates from pharmaceutical companies. Forrrester denied the charge and questioned Corzine's praise of Governor Jim McGreevey just before the former Governor's exit in disgrace. For the first time, Corzine conceded that McGreevey's tenure was a failure. But he said that his joint appearances with the former governor were the poltical eqiuvalant of Forrester's glad-handing President Bush or his top strategist Carl Rove.

The debate did provide insights into what a Forrester or Corzine Governorship might be like. Both mulit-millionaires would forgo their $175,000 state salary should they get the job. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.