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Corzine suffers rare election loss on stem cell issue http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-1110200 7-1438723.html By TOM HESTER Jr. The Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. - Democratic New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine finds himself in an odd place , the wrong end of an election outcome. Since entering politics after departing as chairman of investment giant Goldman Sachs, the multimillionaire governor has used his money and politics to gain a U.S. Senate seat and the New Jersey governor's seat and boost his supporters. But critics sense weakness after New Jersey voters on Tuesday rejected a Corzine-backed proposal to borrow $450 million for stem cell research. "It's a real blow to his agenda," said Republican Steve Lonegan, the conservative Bogota mayor who helped lead the campaign against the stem cell funding. "It certainly slows down what appears to be an out-of-control big government, big taxing machine." But Corzine, who donated $200,000 to help run ads supporting the stem cell funding, campaigned heavily for the stem cell funding and made it a centerpiece of his economic development plans, said he's undeterred. He said he doesn't see the defeat as a personal rejection. He attributes the defeat to low voter-turnout, organized opposition and voter worry about shaky state finances. "I suspect that there's still a favorable view about stem cell research," Corzine said. "What I do believe is the public sent a clear message that they're not happy with the financial structure." Still, Corzine isn't accustomed to failure. He worked at Goldman Sachs from 1975 to 1999, including a stint as chairman from 1994 until his departure. The 60-year-old spent about $65 million of his own money to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2000 and about $40 million of his own money to win New Jersey's gubernatorial seat in 2005, donating more than $8 million to Democratic causes along the way. Tom Wilson, the state Republican Party chairman, thinks Corzine has lost his magic. He noted Corzine campaigned heavily for stem cell research and two unsuccessful Democratic state Senate candidates. "All three of them lost," Wilson said. "This is not a good sign for Jon Corzine." Corzine said he doesn't view it that way, noting he also campaigned with Democrat Jim Whelan, who easily won the Senate seat representing Atlantic City. "What I think we are charged to do is get to work on restructuring the finances of the state," Corzine said. "That's the message I got. Not all the other implications." Corzine said the stem cell loss isn't about him. "I'm disappointed," he said. "Not for myself, but for the individuals and families that I think are going to missing advances in the science that will deal with serious debilitations in their lives. I'm also disappointed because I think we have a very real competitive edge in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry which I think will be open to significant competition." Still, he conceded he might have done more to help pass the question. He said stem cell supporters might have needed more help in getting voters to the polls. That's something they're not used to doing, he said, unlike the religious, anti-abortion and conservative groups who opposed the question and have political experience. Corzine wouldn't say whether he was surprised by organized opposition to stem cell research, led by the Roman Catholic Church and anti-abortion group New Jersey Right to Life. "I would say that in any circumstance where you get 25 percent of the vote out, the people who organize the best around their issue are going to tend to have the greatest influence. I think that's what you saw," he said. Corzine has been working on a plan to resolve state fiscal woes through increased highway tolls. Wilson said that plan should be "dead on arrival," but Corzine said the election shows voters want the state to look for money in places other than taxpayers' pockets. Democratic leaders said they retain faith in Corzine and the stem cell defeat shouldn't influence his fiscal plan. "The public will react once the governor announces his plan as to how he thinks we can best eat away at this incredible debt," said Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex. Despite the loss and frequent struggles with fellow Democrats in the Legislature, Corzine, who faces re-election in 2009, said he's not frustrated, especially considering how he survived a near-fatal car accident in April. "I love my job," Corzine said. "I'm so lucky to be alive, I couldn't be more excited about coming to work, getting up every single day, and that you can take to the bank." November 10, 2007 9:51 AM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn