CNN With Lou Dobbs- Interview with NJ Gov. Candidate Chris Daggett

Interview

DOBBS: New Jersey's gubernatorial race is seen as a referendum by some on the president, but the latest polls show Governor Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie in a dead heat. Independent voters could determine the outcome and will. The independent candidate is Chris Daggett. He joins us now.

Good to have you with us.

CHRIS DAGGETT (I), NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, Lou, good to be here.

DOBBS: You have rich double digits. A lot of people said that couldn't happen. You've got a couple weeks to close this deal. Are you going to be able to do it?

DAGGETT: I believe so. I actually am in high double digits, and with margin of error, I'm maybe over 20 percent even.

DOBBS: And this is -- only one person will emerge. This is -- the plurality will determine.

DAGGETT: Winner take all.

DOBBS: And you really don't have that far to go. I'm sure it must seem like forever with you, but what are you going to do to seal the deal. DAGGETT: To seal the deal, I've got to get people to take the attitude that I've already made the case that I'm the best candidate for governor. I think people have seen that in the first debate. I was declared the clear winner in that debate by most news organizations. I think I've made the case, and it's a matter now of voters saying they've got to take it into their own hands, in the sense that the people who are upset at both parties and they are legion in New Jersey. They are everywhere.

It's a matter of them going to the polls and exercising their vote.

DOBBS: The "Star Ledger," the largest, most respected newspaper in the state of New Jersey endorsed you. Much of the shock of just about everybody in the state because they said not only are the candidates inadequate. The parties are basically incompetent and corrupt. That is about as strong an endorsement as you can possibly get.

DAGGETT: It was. He confirmed everything I've been saying in the campaign. And that is that the two parties have not gotten the willingness or the ability to step up to it and address the problems that face the state. So I agree with you.

DOBBS: How do you trump the money? Because they're both bringing all of the money, the Republican machine. Whatever else these two parties are, they are branding organizations, and they are money-raising organizations.

DAGGETT: It's a matter of doing all the things that we're doing: continuing to get the message out through the Internet, through advertising and television. We're not going to match the money.

But as I've said, I've made the case about my candidacy. And at some point voters have to say, it's never wrong to vote for the right person. And they can come in and make the difference in this election, and I think they will.

DOBBS: You've changed your party affiliation to independent just this year?

DAGGETT: I did.

DOBBS: And, first, why did it take this long? And, secondly, what do you say to those who say your -- your role is that of a -- and we should say from what party to independent, or in New Jersey it's unaffiliated. And what do you say to those who say you're a spoiler?

DAGGETT: I'm not a spoiler. The only wasted vote in this election is the vote for this politics as usual. It's been that way in New Jersey for a while. We've got an opportunity in this state to change things like we've never had in my lifetime.

And people are upset. They are unhappy with both parties. And the "Star Ledger" expressed that opinion very strongly. It captured the sentiment of the state. So tonight, those people just saying it's time. It's time to take the whole opportunity into our own hands and to exercise that vote by -- by formalizing that feeling that they have, which is really anti-party.

If you come around the state with me on a day-to-day basis, you'd see how angry people truly are. They're ready for a change in New Jersey.

DOBBS: I think they, it can be safely said, are being strongly considered around the country.

DAGGETT: I agree with that.

DOBBS: Appreciate you being with us. Good luck.

Independent candidate for governor of the state of New Jersey.

I just want to make very clear, we have invited Governor Corzine and Mr. Christie to share their views with us and join us here. We hope the two candidates will be at some point -- well, I hope they'll join us so we can examine their view and their -- and the allegations by Mr. Daggett. We can't just let this just stand.

Thank you, Chris.

DAGGETT: Thank you

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