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Pro-Life Pro-Family Candidate Chris Christie Captures New Jersey Governorship

By Peter J. Smith

TRENTON, New Jersey, November 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Incumbent Democrat Gov. Jon Corzine conceded defeat last night to pro-life, pro-family Republican Chris Christie in New Jersey's governor's race.

Christie fought a hard-won battle against the incumbent Corzine and third-party candidate Chris Daggett, winning 49 percent of the vote. Corzine, whose bid for re-election received huge assistance from President Barack Obama, who personally campaigned for him in New Jersey, came in second with 45 percent of the vote, with Daggett trailing in third with six percent.

President Obama had attempted to rally support behind Corzine by tapping into the popularity that garnered the President 57 percent of the vote in New Jersey in 2008. However neither Obama's personal charisma, nor Corzine's outspending Christie by almost 3-1 - $30 million to $11.5 million - could save the incumbent governor from defeat in an election that mainly turned on the economy and job stagnation, crippling fees and taxes (especially sky-high property taxes), and fiscal irresponsibility in Trenton that has run rampant during Corzine's tenure.

Christie accepted Corzine's concession of defeat around 11 p.m. on Tuesday and took to the podium with Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" playing in the background. Cheering supporters waving American and "Tea Party" flags greeted Christie and interrupted his acceptance speech several times, including with shouts of "Yes, we can" - an obvious reference to Obama's famous 2008 campaign slogan.

"Tomorrow we will take back New Jersey back for our families. Tomorrow we will take back New Jersey for our friends," Christie told cheering supporters. "Tomorrow we begin to build that greater New Jersey for our children and grandchildren. I want my children to raise their children in this state. I want your children to raise their children in this great state."

However, social issues - especially life-related issues and same-sex "marriage" - also played a supporting role in the gubernatorial campaign.

During the brutal campaign fight, Corzine, who was endorsed by abortion-provider Planned Parenthood, had attacked Christie in ads for the latter's support of a constitutional amendment banning abortion and his opposition to embryonic stem-cell research.

Corzine is a big proponent of embryonic stem-cell research. However, New Jersey voters, frustrated with the state's failure to close a $3 billion budget gap, rejected in November 2007 a $450 million ballot initiative to support a project that would have funded embryonic stem-cell research facilities. The setback was a political humiliation for Corzine, who had broken ground for the Christopher Reed Pavilion in October with the words "to the future," only to have the voters shelve the project a month later.

Christie, on the other hand, received a critical endorsement from New Jersey's foremost pro-life GOP Congressman Chris Smith. The pro-life leader's approval for Christie, who admitted at the beginning of his campaign that he used to describe himself as "pro-choice" until the birth of his own children led him to embrace the pro-life position, was followed by the endorsement of New Jersey Right to Life.

New Jersey's governor-elect told New Jersey's Star-Ledger on the campaign trail that he favors common-sense restrictions on abortion, such as the partial-birth abortion ban, parental notification laws, and a mandatory 24-hour waiting period for women considering aborting their unborn children.

Although he favors allowing New Jersey's current law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples to stay on the books, Christie went on record as supporting a Marriage Protection Amendment and promised that he would veto any bill passed by the state legislature legalizing same-sex "marriage."

Both of Christie's challengers, Corzine and Daggett, indicated that they would sign a bill legalizing same-sex "marriage" if given the opportunity.

Corzine is pressing the New Jersey legislature to pass same-sex "marriage" before January - within the lame-duck session - although it is unclear how the crushing defeat handed to same-sex "marriage" proponents in Maine would affect political enthusiasm for such a bill among New Jersey legislators.

See related election coverage by LifeSiteNews.com:

 Pro-Life Candidates Make Triple Sweep in Virginia Elections
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09110401.html

Breaking: Maine Voters Reject Same-Sex "Marriage" Law
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09110402.html

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