Obama Makes Final Push for Corzine

Updated 4:00 PM EST, Sun, Nov 1, 2009

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President Barack Obama is telling voters in New Jersey that challenging economic times are worrying parents who want to send their kids to college and plan for their own retirement.

     Obama is campaigning on behalf of New Jersey's Democratic governor, Jon Corzine, who is in a tough bid for re-election. Corzine is tied in polls with his Republican opponent, Chris Christie.

At a rally in Camden on Sunday, Obama blamed the economic downturn on trickle-down policies and lax regulation favored by Christie's Republican Party. The president praised Corzine for moving the state forward on education and economic issues.

Corzine draws criticism for his handling of state finances. The top issue for voters is the state's high property tax.

GOP Challenger Chris Christie held a meager one-point lead over incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine, 43 to 42 percent, in the latest Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll. The poll shows a shift from two weeks ago, when the race was tied at 39 percent.

Christie, however, had 86 percent of his party's support, while Corzine only had 77 percent from state Democrats, according to the poll.

"This election will be defined by turnout like few others before it," Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement."Many Democrats are sitting on the sidelines and not considered to be likely voters at this point."

Chris Daggett, the Independent contender, dropped 6 percent from the last poll and fell to an 8 percent mark from his 14 percent high two weeks ago.