TRENTON, N.J. -- Democratic Rep. James J. Florio conceded defeat Monday to Republican Thomas H. Kean, who won the race for governor with the smallest margin of victory ever in a New Jersey gubernatorial election.
'The recount is virtually over ... It is clear what the result is,' the four-term congressman said of the Nov. 3 election.
Kean had been certified by New Jersey's 21 counties with a 1,677-vote margin, but Florio had requested a recount.
'It shows that each and every vote does make a difference,' Florio said.
The recount, which cost Florio $40,000, expanded Kean's lead by 140 votes, according tofigures supplied by his campaign and undisputed by the Florio camp.
The congressman said he would not contest the recount, which began 12 days ago and which is expected to be wrapped up Tuesday or Wednesday.
Florio also used his news conference -- conducted two blocks from the state Capitol -- to continue to lash out at the economic policies of President Reagan which he said 'will bring disaster to the nation.'
An aggressive congressman who clenched the Democratic gubernatorial nomination last June over 12 opponents, Florio also said that the election was a referendum on Reagan's policies.
Kean, 44, a millionaire businessman from Livingston, embraced the Reagan policies making them the centerpiece of his campaign by modeling a tax cut plan after Reagan's.
'We're just pleased that it's finally all over,' said Kean press secretary Carl Golden.
'I think Jim Florio handled the concession with great dignity. He deserves the respect of every New Jerseyan for having waged a vigorous campaign,' said Gov. Brendan T. Byrne in a statement. The governor had done little campaigning with Florio, as the congressman had wished.
The state Board of Canvassers will formally certify Kean, the former Assembly speaker, as the victor Tuesday.
'It is in the best interests of the state to allow Tom to have the time to prepare' for his administration, Florio said in explaining why he chose to withdraw his request for manual recounts in three counties that use computers.
'By a small margin, they (voters) have accepted Tom Kean's set of answers,' the four-term congressman said.
Florio, 46, of Runnemede, said he had called Kean earlier in the day to congratulate him.
Florio did not rule out running for U.S. Senate next year or seeking re-election to Congress.
