NJ Gubenatorial Candidates Face Off in Final Debate

New York, NY —

Governor Corzine and his opponents Chris Christie and Chris Daggett faced off in their final debate last night. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: For much of the hour, Governor Corzine was on the defensive over his four-year record. He cast himself as a leader who faced tough choices imposed by a national economic crisis, who cut the state budget while still making strides in education and healthcare.

Christie tried to offer voters more to go on than his image as a Federal prosecutor and committed tax-cutter. He pledged to drive a tougher bargain with state workers over pensions but also argued for arts funding and re-vitalizing the state's department of environmental protection.

Daggett, the independent, re-iterated his plan to roll back business and property taxes by 25 percent by extending the sales tax to include services. He also argued that increased spending on higher education was the surest way to attract new industries. In New Jersey for WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.