Lessons for Wisconsin in NJ gov's race

Some lessons from the New Jersey governor's race:

That stem cell research truly is a wedge issue, which the winner, Jon Corzine, successfully used in his television campaign against Doug Forrester -- whose views are remarkably like those of Mark Green.

This Philadelphia Inquirer article makes the point quite well:

Stem-cell research is becoming a political "wedge" issue much like abortion, said David Rebovich, a political-science professor at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J.

"Despite the partisan labels, these two guys aren't too distinguishable to the casual political observer," Rebovich said. "Their positions on this issue are so distinct they might motivate unaffiliated voters."

Forrester's position appeals to conservative groups like New Jersey's League of American Families. Executive director John Tomicki condemns Corzine for "running on hope and hype" and accuses him of "speculating" with taxpayers' money.

Some Republican political consultants fear Forrester's position could alienate independent voters, who are traditionally liberal on social issues.

"There's no question in my mind that the majority of New Jersey voters support stem-cell research," said David Murray, a GOP consultant. "The question is whether Corzine decides to exploit this issue on network television."

The answer was yes, and Corzine's TV commercial on the issue threw Forrester into such a tizzy that he reversed his position on the issue in the final days of the campaign. Didn't work. Voters aren't that dumb, and it made them wonder about whether Forrester believed in anything.

StemPAC has more on the race.

The other fallout may be that we will not see any commercials featuring candidates' ex-wives, since Forrester's negative ad against Corzine backfired badly. That must be a relief to at least one Republican statewide candidate in Wisconsin.

Earlier post: Garden State race in 2005 could be prelude to Badger state race in 2006.