New Jersey's Corzine beats out former governor in Democratic primary

Last round of presidential primaries passes virtually unnoticed

June 7, 2000
Web posted at: 11:21 AM EDT (1521 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In perhaps the highest profile race of a particularly low-profile primary day around much of the nation, one-time Wall Street financier Jon Corzine defeated former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio to secure his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Frank Lautenberg.

The race for the New Jersey Democratic Party's nomination was the most watched of all the primary contests of the day, even while Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush completed their long march through the 2000 presidential primary season.

Five states held presidential voting events on Tuesday: Alabama, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, with Bush and Gore bull rushing their way to victories in their respective party primaries in each.

While official counts were not available, Gore won each Democratic primary handily against opposition that included the likes of perennial candidate Lyndon LaRouche.

Some 217 "pledge" convention delegates were at stake for the Democrats on Tuesday -- 54 in Alabama; 105 in New Jersey; 17 in Montana; 26 in New Mexico, and 15 in South Dakota.

On the Republican side, Bush claimed the majority of the party convention delegates up for grabs on Tuesday, with some amount of spirited competition from former United Nations ambassador and talk show host Alan Keyes, who is continuing his grass roots push for the White House straight through to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia later this summer.

There were some 164 delegates up for grabs for the Republicans on Tuesday -- 44 in Alabama; 54 in New Jersey; 23 in Montana; 21 in New Mexico, and 22 in South Dakota.

With that, the 2000 presidential primary season goes out with nary a whimper, after a spectacular start in January and February that saw fierce battles in both parties -- with Gore and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley engaged in one of the most vicious Democratic contests in recent memory, and Bush battling Arizona Sen. John McCain for the heart and soul of the Republican Party, and the privilege of reaching past the party's base toward moderate Democrats and Independents.

Speaking at his victory party late on Tuesday night in Trenton, New Jersey's state capital, Corzine attempted to put some of the ugliness of the Democratic race for the Senate behind him, saying he wished to "invest in America" by promoting his plan to allow some Social Security funds to be invested in the stock market.

"That is what this campaign will be about," Corzine said in reference to his upcoming contest against U.S. Rep. Bob Franks, who edged out three other Republican candidates Tuesday night for the right to face Corzine in November.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting early on Tuesday morning, Corzine had 246,472 votes, or 58 percent, while Florio had 179,059 votes, or 42 percent.

Corzine, who hasn't a shred of political experience, dedicated some $33 million of his own money to his primary effort, with much of that money spent on fierce attack ads against Florio's record as governor.

Corzine's spending spree broke the previous Senate campaign record established by California Republican Michael Huffington, who spent $30 million in his failed effort to unseat Democrat Dianne Feinstein in 1994. With his battle against Franks already starting to take shape, it is clear he will be spending much more money in the run toward the general election.

Corzine, a former Goldman-Sachs executive, is said to be worth some $400 million.

Corzine's television spots during the primary race claimed Florio was responsible for massive increases in state taxes, 280,000 lost jobs, and the plight of 200,000 state residents who could not afford health insurance.

Florio was voted out of office in 1993 after one term. A $2.8 billion tax increase implemented on his watch was blamed for his defeat at the hands of Republican Christine Todd Whitman.

Florio hit back at Corzine, and the two parried over the state's airwaves for months, with some of Florio's ads going so far as to allege that the Corzine organization hired a private detective to dig up dirt on the former state executive.

A clearly disappointed Florio complained about the results of the primary, but begrudgingly said he would support Corzine in his battle against Franks. Prior to Tuesday's vote, Florio had accused Corzine of being a "threat to democracy," and of trying to buy the election.

Speaking after securing his own party nod, Franks immediately took aim at Corzine's extravagant spending habits.

"If he has such little regard for his own money, what regard will he have for yours, and your children's, and your parents'?" Franks said.

Franks, who garnered an estimated 36 percent of the Republican vote, defeated challengers state Sen. William Gormley, Essex County Executive Jim Treffinger and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin.

New Jersey held much of the political spotlight on Tuesday night, with the components of a handful of important races for the House of Representatives decided.

In the 12th Congressional District, whose seat is now held by Rep. Rush Holt (D), former GOP Rep. Dick Zimmer defeated another former GOP congressman, Mike Pappas for the privilege of challenging the first-term Democrat.

Pappas lost to Holt two years ago in part because of a ditty he sang about impeachment on the House floor ("Twinkle, Twinkle, Kenneth Starr, now we see how brave you are.") The song has haunted him ever since. Holt defeated Pappas after footage of the song was aired over and over again throughout the state in the days leading up to the last mid-term elections.

Zimmer gave up the seat prior to Pappas' election so he could run for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Robert Torricelli. He lost.

In the state's 5th Congressional District, longtime Republican Rep. Marge Roukema once again fended off a challenge from conservative E. Scott Garrett, who had described her as too liberal too deserve retention of the seat.

Garrett used similar tactics against Roukema before, to little effect. First elected in 1980, she is Congress' longest-serving woman.

Meanwhile, in Alabama, Circuit Court Judge Roy Moore, who did battle with the American Civil Liberties Union in 1995 as he sought to post the Ten Commandments in his courtroom, won the GOP nomination for chief justice of the state Supreme Court. Moore, who bucked Republican leaders to run for the seat, took 55 percent of the vote in a four-way race, avoiding a runoff.

In Montana, Democratic farmer Brian Schweitzer made the high cost of prescription medicine the theme of his Senate campaign, taking buses with seniors to Canada to highlight the price differences. He easily won the nomination to face two-term GOP Sen. Conrad Burns in the fall.

And, Montana state Auditor Mark O'Keefe won the Democratic nomination to replace Republican Gov. Mark Racicot, forced by term limits to retire. Lt. Gov. Judy Martz won the GOP primary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MORE STORIES:

Wednesday, June 7, 2000

• Gore could feel the wrath of Gates' wallet after Microsoft ruling
  
• Senate Democrats push for vote on patient's bill of rights
  
• Tipper Gore says mental illness still stigmatized
  
• Union gives $1 million to House Democrats
  
• New Jersey's Corzine beats out former governor in Democratic primary
  
• Gore announces 'eldercare' plan to help families
  
• Stuart Rothenberg: Spotlight races of the week in Oklahoma, Utah
  
• Democrats unveil first ad in anticipated general election blitz
  
• Poll: N.Y. Senate race still a dead heat
  
• Bipartisan group of senators seek changes in death penalty procedures
  
• Medicare to expand clinical trial coverage
  
• Donor's ex-aide admits obstructing campaign finance investigation
  
• House GOP would earmark surplus to cut debt
  
• Federal election official blasts Internet voting
  

ARCHIVES