Down And Dirty In Jersey

With six days to go until the state's primary, New Jersey's largest newspaper endorsed former governor Jim Florio Wednesday in his race against Jon Corzine for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

The Star-Ledger of Newark urged voters to look beyond "the mythical Jim Florio" who was demonized over his decision as governor to raise taxes and to give him credit as "a first-rate congressman and a gutsy governor who did the right thing and could be expected to perform well in Washington, as he did before."

The Times of Trenton endorsed Corzine, calling the former Wall Street financier a champion of activist government who "has had the courage to campaign as a liberal."

The Star-Ledger said Florio's experience makes him preferable to an opponent who has no record in public life. Its editorial criticized Corzine, who could wind up spending more than $30 million in the primary election alone, for a "startling lack of proportion in his spending."

The newspaper noted Florio's achievements as a sponsor of Superfund and toxic waste cleanup legislation and advocate of tight regulation of the insurance industry.

The Times, while criticizing the negative tone and extravagant cost of the campaign, said Corzine had to outspend his opponent in order to be competitive and noted that the money is largely his own, as opposed to contributions from special interests seeking influence.

It also said that Corzine would not take the same political baggage into the fall election.

"New Jersey Democrats can't be blamed for remembering the tax fiasco, and for wondering whether their party again will suffer in a general election if the ex-governor is at the top of the ballot. They can put their minds at ease by nominating Jon Corzine," the editorial said.

Democrats will be deciding which candidate will face off in November against Republicans, who are locked in a four-way contest between U.S. Rep. Bob Franks, State Sen. Bill Gormley, Essex County Executive Jim Treffinger, and professor Murray Sabrin. Franks has received the most backing from the national GOP, including an endorsement this week from Ohio Rep. John Kasich.