McGreevey Endorses Howard Dean

New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey endorsed Howard Dean for the Democratic nomination for president on Friday, saying the former Vermont governor shares his support for middle-class families.

"We need a president who believes that the most important things in America are the economy, the environment and our children's future," McGreevey said during a joint appearance with Dean.

McGreevey also used his time before the crowd of about 600 union members, party workers and Dean supporters to fault both President Bush and former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman for policies he says cost the states by raising debt and taxes for the middle class.

"When did fiscal irresponsibility upset social intolerance as the message of the Republican Party?" McGreevey asked.

Dean called McGreevey a leader among governors for his budgets that did not raise sales or income taxes, despite a sagging economy.

Democrats should be proud to support jobs and the environment and work to elect other Democrats who support that agenda, Dean said.

"We cannot win if we think the best way to beat Bush is to be Bush Lite," Dean said.

Dean also touched on popular New Jersey issues, saying the Bush administration has failed to help states pay for homeland security efforts and education programs. That failure translates into higher property taxes in New Jersey communities, Dean said.

About 50 state party leaders were also on hand to back Dean. They included U.S. Reps. Rush Holt and Frank Pallone and 15 of the state's 21 county party chairmen.

"The entire state of New Jersey essentially is going to endorse Dean today," said Pallone.

With its primary scheduled for June 8, New Jersey joins Montana as the last states to choose delegates for the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July. The early endorsements will help the state push its agenda with the national campaign, party officials said.

"New Jersey is now going to be first, if you will, for Howard Dean," Pallone said.

The Dean campaign has been seeking support from Democratic governors and others in the party, hoping to build on the momentum from Dean's recent endorsement by former Vice President Al Gore.

New Jersey Democrats can offer Dean a highly organized party with specialized get-out-the-vote efforts. In the state, Democrats outnumber Republicans with 1.1 million registered voters to 880,000 for the GOP, and the more than 2.5 million unaffiliated voters usually lean Democratic.

Democrats also routinely collect more campaign cash than the GOP.

McGreevey, whose public opinion ratings remain low, is a tireless campaigner and fund-raiser and has promised that help to Dean.

In 2000, Gore beat George W. Bush decisively in the state, and Democrats hold both U.S. Senate seats.

Republicans were quick to criticize both McGreevey and Dean.

"By endorsing Howard Dean for president, New Jersey voters now know how truly out-of-step Jim McGreevey really is on important matters like the economy, government spending and our national defense," state Republican Chairman Joseph Kyrillos said.

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