CBS 2 News This Morning

NEW YORK (CBS) ― New Jersey is getting a new governor.

Democrat Jon Corzine was ousted after just one term in office after Republican Chris Christie's relentless pounding over high property taxes and shaky state finances.

He was outspent on the campaign trail and outdone over attack ads launched by his incumbent opponent. But Tuesday night, Christie embraced another emotion, validation, as he claimed victory, unseating Governor Corzine.

"Tomorrow we will take back New Jersey back for our families. Tomorrow we will take back New Jersey for our friends," Christie said from Parsippany after his victory was made official late Tuesday night.

"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."

Corzine said he called Christie just before 11 p.m. Tuesday "and congratulated him on becoming New Jersey's next governor." He pledged to work with Christie to ensure a smooth transition.

Independent voters gave President Barack Obama a huge advantage in the state last year, but they heavily favored Christie on Tuesday.

Vote totals reveal a record low turnout for a New Jersey governor's race marked by negative attack ads and plenty of mudslinging that many voters say clouded the candidates' positions.

What's clear is that, according to exit polls, 39 percent of voters decided change trumped experience, and 58 percent of registered independents voted for Christie.

"I will tell you, the campaign we just went through was easy compared to the tasks that will face us to fix this state. There are no easy answers to these difficult questions."

As the first Republican in 12 years to win a statewide office in New Jersey, Christie also defeated brushed back attempts by the Obama administration.

Christie's win will likely be perceived as a big defeat for the White House. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden had stumped for Corzine several times during the campaign, and they had hoped the result would speak positively to the job they are doing in Washington.

In New Jersey, 60 percent of voters said Obama was not a factor in their vote. For those voters who said Obama was a factor, 19 percent said their vote for governor was to support him, while 20 percent said it was to express opposition.

In all, 38 percent of Corzine voters said their vote for the incumbent was to express support for Obama, while 59 percent said Obama was not a factor.

Among Christie backers, 39 percent said their vote for governor was to oppose the president.
Many New Jerseyans said they were eager for change in a state where property taxes are causing so much unrest.

"I'm struggling to pay my rent. I couldn't stay in my house, I couldn't afford it, not with the taxes the way they were," said "Jeanie," a Paramus resident who withheld her last name.

Ken Torsland, a Vietnam vet, told CBS 2 HD he was voting Republican across the board, save for a Democrat who is a friend. It's a referendum, he said, on President Obama's administration.

"I think Democrats are showing a total disregard to what I hear from friends, family, and people who surround me," he said.

Other said they want to keep the status quo during tough economic times.

"I think Mr. Corzine is more equipped to handle it," one voter said.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

WCBSTV.com Popular Pages

• Go! New York For A Healthy Lifestyle
• Got Wit? Play CBS 2's Caption Game!
• 20 Questions
• Celebrities On Twitter
• Celebrity Real Names Revealed
• When It Was Out To Be Out
• Hilarious Movie Blunders
• World's Coolest Fighter Jets