Christie holds on tight to win roller-coaster campaign

AND CLAIRE HEININGER

It took six months of campaigning before Chris Christie believed he could actually win the race for governor.

One late July morning -- in the days after the FBI arrested 44 people in a record-setting corruption sting -- the former federal prosecutor turned to his wife, Mary Pat, and suggested they prepare for the new life that would come with victory.

"She looked and stared, like, "really?'" Christie recalled. "Then she said, "You know, I think you're right.'"

In the next few months, the Republican's double-digit lead in the polls gave way to a neck-and-neck race against the wealthy Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine. The campaign deteriorated into a name-calling brawl over ethics, issues and Christie's weight -- and an upstart independent, Chris Daggett, proclaimed that he, not Christie, was the true agent of change.

But Christie survived, becoming the first Republican to win a statewide election in a dozen years.

"There was always a confidence that this could happen," said Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), Christie's campaign chairman. "There was perhaps a euphoria in the summertime. But we always cautioned ourselves that the numbers would get close."

More than 20 key players interviewed in both campaigns said regardless of Corzine's wealth and a strong Democratic endgame strategy, Christie was always favored to win a race defined by a weak economy, high property taxes and troubling unemployment.

"Throw the bums out'

"People are disgruntled and angry," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), Corzine's running mate. "When people get angry and hostile, the attitude is, "Throw the bums out, whoever they are.'"

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