Corzine, Christie in dead heat in NJ

GALLOWAY, N.J., Oct. 30 (UPI) -- New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and his Republican challenger, Chris Christie, are locked in a race too close to call, a poll released Friday said.

Zogby International surveyed 1,093 voters, with 40 percent saying they prefer Corzine and 39 percent Christie. Chris Daggett, a former Republican environmental official running as an independent, has the support of 14 percent.

The poll was done for the Hughes Center for Public Policy at Richard Stockton College.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only states choosing governors Tuesday. Corzine has been getting help from Democratic heavy hitters, including former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama, who plans a final visit to the state this weekend.

Only 6 percent of those surveyed said they remain undecided. And Sharon Schulman, head of the Hughes Center, said most voters have made up their minds, even though many do not like their choices. She said only 34 percent of likely voters want to give Corzine another term, and 59 percent said they would prefer someone else, including 30 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of independents.

The telephone poll was done between Tuesday and Thursday and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.