Gore urges Democrats in to reelect Corzine

ATLANTIC CITY - Former Vice President Al Gore last night touted New Jersey Gov. Corzine's economic-recovery efforts and his policies on health care and the environment as he urged the state's Democrats to do all they can to help get him reelected.

"He's the real deal," said Gore, who was in New Jersey to give the keynote address at the Democratic State Committee's annual convention.

"You have a man who has the knowledge, the experience, the commitment, the compassion and the record of solid accomplishments fighting every single hour of every single day for New Jersey. Let's reelect Jon Corzine," Gore told the crowd of 500.

Corzine, who faces a tough reelection bid from GOP rival Christopher J. Christie, a federal prosecutor during the Bush administration, promised a victory Nov. 3. Corzine has lagged consistently in polls.

Gore, who won the popular vote for the presidency in 2000 but lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush, deadpanned: "Elections matter."

He reminded the crowd of the differences between Democrats and Republicans on a range of issues including health care before warning them not to permit a Republican victory in the race for New Jersey's top elected post.

Gore dismissed the third candidate in the race - independent Chris Daggett, a former Department of Environmental Protection commissioner - as having no chance against the better-known and better-financed candidates.

"You could also throw your vote away and pretend you're not doing it," Gore said. "Let me tell you how that works out."