October 26, 2009
Posted: October 26th, 2009 09:19 PM ET

From
Gov. Corzine insisted Monday that a controversial ad was not about his Republican challenger's weight.
Gov. Corzine insisted Monday that a controversial ad was not about his Republican challenger's weight.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said Monday that a recent ad about his Republican challenger should have used a different expression than "threw his weight around," a turn-of-phrase which some political observers took as an effort to ridicule Chris Christie because of his waistline.

Late last month, the Democratic governor released a campaign ad that focused on what the Corzine campaign views as Republican Christie's track record of using his status as a U.S. attorney to gain special treatment in New Jersey. But the ad measured accusations by "weight."

"If you drove the wrong way down a one-way street, causing an accident and putting the victim in a trauma center...would you get away without a ticket?" the announcer said in the 30-second Corzine television ad. "Chris Christie did...."

"Christie threw his weight around as U.S. attorney and got off easy," the ad said.

In a recent debate and last week on CNN's "Situation Room," Christie directly responded to the ad's implication about his size.

"I'll let all of your audience in on a little secret," Christie told CNN's Wolf Blitzer last Wednesday, "I'm overweight and I've struggled with my weight for the last 30 years on and off and that's the way it is."

Christie also told Blitzer that he thought the Corzine ad was "beneath the office [Corzine] holds," and the New Jersey Republican slammed his opponent for not admitting that the ad was targeted at his weight rather than his conduct.

Appearing on "Situation Room" Monday, Corzine insisted that the controversial ad was meant to highlight Christie's behavior.

"I don't give a hoot about his weight," the New Jersey governor told Blitzer. Echoing themes in the ad, Corzine also said Monday that Christie had a pattern of receiving special treatment.

"How many people can abuse their power, abuse their office by flashing their credentials - throwing their weight around - however you want to say it," Corzine said on CNN.

Asked whether the ad should have used a different phrase than "threw his weight around," Corzine said, "That's probably a good idea," because of the distraction the weight controversy has caused.

Corzine and Christie face off in New Jersey's gubernatorial election in just eight days. A new poll out Monday showed Corzine leading Christie by 9 points.

–CNN's Emily Sherman contributed to this report.

Filed under: Chris Christie • Extra • Jon Corzine • New Jersey • The Situation Room


jayh   October 27th, 2009 2:15 am ET

Call a spade a spade I say!

Bld   October 27th, 2009 2:11 am ET

Christie knows full well that Corzine was talking about his conduct, and use of his position to gain special treatment. Seems that Christie is willing to say pretty much anything to get elected.

mike   October 27th, 2009 1:45 am ET

Just like your President, you are a disgrace.

D.   October 27th, 2009 1:38 am ET

Yeh Yeh, and "The same OLD politics" in 08 was not about age..... Democrats are sooo... pure and clean and it is only the republican dirt machine, yeh yeh!!! (and if you believe it there is a nice bridge from Manhatten to NJ that I can sell you!)

Scott Y.   October 27th, 2009 1:27 am ET

I've been dismayed and perplexed by Corzine's campaign strategy. Instead of focusing on the essence of the message in that television ad, which is alleges Chrisitie's misuse of his power as a U.S. Attorney for personal gain and advantage, Corzine is instead allowing Christie to define himself as a victim, and deftly using humor to deflect insinuations about his weight to circumscribe Corzine as a typical, Washington politician with money and the sense of entitlement to the governor's office. It's a shame that with the Republicans in disarray across the country, and low favorable ratings, the Democrats aren't able to field marginally better candidates than Corzine in NJ or Deeds in Va.

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   October 27th, 2009 1:24 am ET

Why doesn't Christie see and raise Corzine with an ad about New Jersey being "completely unrestrained by seat belts and unnecessarily damaged by such imprudence, which we have come to expect from Masters of the Banking Universe whose wild risk-taking caused the last Recession."

Liberal4Obama   October 27th, 2009 1:20 am ET

Will republicans ever STOP playing the victim and STOP whining... will they ever START doing something for a change?

Amie   October 27th, 2009 12:41 am ET

Christie needs to stop whining. He's making a mountain out of a mole hill. He needs to find SOMETHING to campaign about other than his own fat weight.

phillydan   October 27th, 2009 12:29 am ET

People should be focused on what Christie did not on the implication that they were picking on his weight. Another Repub tactical diversion from the real issue.

wbn   October 26th, 2009 11:59 pm ET

Liberals say things all the time with hardly a mention by the mainstream media, while conservatives say similar things and are hammered by the same news outlets without the phony format of a "discussion." No wonder CNN keeps spiraling downward in TV viewership.

Aaron   October 26th, 2009 11:58 pm ET

Typical politician...taking a common expression and trying to make it into a comment about abuse of power into one about being overweight to take the heat off.

Zago   October 26th, 2009 11:56 pm ET

Whatever! The Ad was fun though!

Lucky B   October 26th, 2009 11:37 pm ET

This is totally silly and should be beneath the dignity of any office holder.
Christie must be pretty desperate for attention if he has to stoop so low (...wait... could that be taken as an insult to his height?) as to whine about this.

Chicken Hawk Cheney   October 26th, 2009 11:31 pm ET

Most NORMAL people know what the Gov. Corzine ad meant with his "threw his weight around" comment about Christie. Most NORMAL people, however, does NOT include MOST republicans. Most right-wing, holier-than-thou, nut cases, will cite ANY reason to oppose a Democrat. As a matter of fact, the "Party of No," does not need a reason to oppose Corzine.
Interestingly enough, Christie does look like a typical republican "fat cat" to me...!!!!
O-o-o-o-p-s..!!
LOL....!!!!

We Won Get Over It   October 26th, 2009 11:27 pm ET

Throwing his weight around? That was what christie tried to get people to think he was being put upon...what a panty waist I can not believe it. But then you just can't believe the actions of most republicans now a days.

George Washington   October 26th, 2009 11:27 pm ET

is Obama Carter or Reagan ? neither, he is Obama.

Babs   October 26th, 2009 11:22 pm ET

Is it politically correct to breath?

Margaret   October 26th, 2009 11:12 pm ET

Governor, you've spent quite literally MILLIONS of your own money in an attempt to buy this election. For crying out loud, NOBODY wants to live in a country where politicans can do this.

Take your millions and go buy a small country somewhere. Talk about narcissism!

littlebiggie   October 26th, 2009 11:02 pm ET

if christie bounced his weight around like cozine moves his money around we might have real trouble but christie don t have that much waistline go chris

Dave   October 26th, 2009 10:53 pm ET

Sure interesting that every poll that CNN sites always favors the Demcratic side. Is CNN one of the Democratic mouthpieces? I just saw apoll that had Christie leading. Why didn't you site that poll. Is this news or opinion?

Colette   October 26th, 2009 10:53 pm ET

I try to not vote for the meanest guy! '
I also try to vote for the guy who will reduce taxes!
I vote for fiscal repsonsability!
I vote for someone who can relate to the economy and will make tough budget decisions not increase the defecit. I vote for the guy will create jobs, not government jobs but will produce entrepreneurs!
I vote Christie. Don't vote party vote by analyzing! Save jobs, Save taxes , save business.

Navy Vet   October 26th, 2009 10:48 pm ET

So, after years of the republicans whining on how political correctness has gotten out of control, they now want campaign commercials to be sensitive and in politically correct language when speaking about a republican?

WoW   October 26th, 2009 10:38 pm ET

Corzine has had a horrible campaign. One that has spread lies about Christie and bad remarks. His whole party shouldn't be happy about this.

nathan smith ga   October 26th, 2009 10:38 pm ET

so what it is about his weight since we should all be concerned about our health and healthcare. fact is the guy should have to pay his tickets instead of showing his credentals or throwing his weight around. both is wrong new jersy needs the govenor they have to remain. we dont need to go back to republican dictatorship.

jumbo   October 26th, 2009 10:37 pm ET

trash politicain,,,ugh

Bev   October 26th, 2009 10:36 pm ET

There is no way that Corzine has that large of a lead--I don't care what these so called polls are saying. This is definitely not what Rasmussen is saying, and I believe them more than any loony left polling.

Christie and Corzine are tied. The deciding factor is going to be-–what will those who are currently supporting Daggett (the Independent) do when it comes time to pull the lever.

Rasmussen thinks there is a GOOD chance that a lot of the current Daggett supporters are going to go for Christie at the end--as there are a lot more people that strongly dislike Corzine than those that strongly dislike Christie.

Also, if Corzine had that large of a lead---the Democrats would not be sending in the big guns--Biden, Clinton, and the Obama himself (twice each)---to campaign for Corzine.

Bull   October 26th, 2009 10:35 pm ET

Corzine is such liar and a loser.

Linda K.   October 26th, 2009 10:33 pm ET

As I weigh into this discussion, I can't help but think he's being a little overly sensitive. It's a common figure of speech. Before getting all hot and bothered he should weigh the importance of the issue at hand.

Bren   October 26th, 2009 10:28 pm ET

Based on the unbiased, national polls such as Rasmussen.......Christie is leading by about 4 points (a tie).

The Independent Daggett has gained a lot of support.

However, they said that those who strongly dislike Corzine is about 9 points more than those who strongly dislike Christie.

Therefore, there is a good chance that when the Republicans/Independents go to pull the lever-–they will pull it for Christie instead of Daggett-–rather than be stuck with Corzine again!!!

Kevin in Ohio   October 26th, 2009 10:24 pm ET

Wake up New Jersey. Get rid of this loser.

Marie in California   October 26th, 2009 10:18 pm ET

Corzine is history, no matter how much of his money he "throws around" trying to get re-elected.

Welcome Gov. Christie!

Runofthemill   October 26th, 2009 10:15 pm ET

Yeah – the last thing Governor Corzine should do right now ifs piss off the fat fs in Jersey. most people realizde that christie would be an absolute disaster for the state - he would be New Jersey's own mini-bush. Only even dumber. So Governor – keep your cool, get out the vote, remind people incessantly what a tool christy is, what a mushroom helmet conservative, what akool aid soaked fox newsie, but do it with nice words...

valwayne   October 26th, 2009 10:12 pm ET

What a dishonest sleaze bucket! Corzine took a cheap and dirty shot at the weight of his opponent and now he's lying about it. And why he's lying about it is beyond me. If there's one group it seems to be ok to ridicule these days its the obese. You've got the liberal Elite like Corzine who spend their days drinking prissy bottled water, and working out at the gym taking cruel shots at average working people who can't afford personal dieticians, trainers, and liposuction! Its easy to see why Corzine is so personally unpopular in NJ. It will be a real shame if he sneaks through in a 3 person field. Let's hope he loses by 1 vote.....the vote of someone whose overweight!

Jerry in Florida   October 26th, 2009 10:06 pm ET

How idiotic can Corzine be? Worst, how can President NObama support a moron like Corzine. Now, I ask the American voters, who is the bigger moron of the two? Now, you know that lying is well ingrained within these two individuals.

President Nobama is such a big hypocrite and liar that media reports indicate that he's also making amends Christie just in case he wins the New Jersey gubernatorial election.

Is this transparency? Is this President NObama's way of bringing the country together? How much more hypocritical can this man get?

Oh, and yes, now there is a mutual admiration of "Pot Holders" at the white house.

America, we are loosing our country at an accelerated pace. We must continue to question with authority and not be intimidated by President NObama and his "good old boys network."

America, there is still time to rescue our beloved country, but we must act prudently!

Mark   October 26th, 2009 9:59 pm ET

Corzine is such a loser

New Yorker   October 26th, 2009 9:56 pm ET

So which one will join the cause for lowering taxes and smaller government; that's really what we want to know.

Anonymous   October 26th, 2009 9:51 pm ET

Why does CNN fail to mention the video graphics highlighting Christie's size?

Oh... wait... I know...

please   October 26th, 2009 9:48 pm ET

throwing ones weight around is a common saying. boo hoo hoo

STILL unemployed in Iowa   October 26th, 2009 9:32 pm ET

just another derogatory comment by a democrate.

T'SAH from Virginia   October 26th, 2009 9:30 pm ET

He still got away with a HEAVY fine he would have gotten for the tickets he did not get!!! Oh wait a minute, I think he "was" BIGGER than that and "did" end up paying the fine??

Wow, words can be harmful, huh? LOL –

It does not matter. Even if people thought the ad meant Christie's weight, you will still vote for him if you like him or vote for the OTHER guy. I did not think of WEIGHT until Wolf Blitzer pointed it out and ran away with it. I mean, on and on and on and on and on!!!

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