Whitman, now chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, broke what some considered a too-long silence to back the GOP standard-bearer who had beaten a preferred party candidate in the June primary.

She did it without reservation at the campaign event, saying Schundler is better than Democrat Jim McGreevey on the bedrock issues for her party: tax cuts, education and public safety. Whitman said Schundler has devoted his campaign to addressing these points adding, ``We know we can believe him when he says that.''

Whitman anchored much of her praise for the candidate on his wife, who is working actively in his campaign.

``She is not behind Bret, she is with him,'' Whitman said. ``It speaks volumes of what we can expect of them.''

Schundler appeared genuinely moved by the support and began his speech by quipping, ``If I was smart I would sit down right now.''

The candidate said his wife gets warmer greetings on the campaign trail then he does, adding he would share power with her as he claimed former President Clinton did. ``If they can do this with Bill and Hillary we can work it out, too,'' Schundler said as Republican women in the audience cheered and waved banners.

Earlier in Trenton, national abortion-rights leader Kate Michelman came to the Statehouse to join Republican women in condemning Schundler's candidacy because of his positions against abortion.

Michelman and the political action wing of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, or NARAL, endorsed McGreevey.

Schundler has said tax cuts and education and, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, leadership quality are vastly more important to New Jersey voters than a candidate's personal, spiritual views on matters such as abortion.

But Michelman said Schundler poses a specific and direct threat to abortion rights because he would sign laws and restrict funding in order to reduce access to abortion with the ultimate goal of repealing it altogether.

``Mr. Schundler believes it is the government's role to dictate whether or not a woman should have the choice to terminate a pregnancy. Mr. Schundler's position flies in the face of New Jersey's proud history of moderation,'' Michelman said, including Republican Govs. Whitman and Tom Kean.

Michelman said the New Jersey organization would call and send mail to 300,000 women on the issue, including 100,000 Republicans and independents, urging votes for McGreevey. ``He recognizes the need to allow women regardless of income the freedom to decide when the time is right and when it is not to bear a child.''

Lynn Schundler, who disagrees with her husband on abortion, said the issue has little bearing on the choice for New Jersey governor. ``I think it is used by Jim McGreevey and it is being used, wittingly or unwittingly, by the media to be divisive,'' she said.

Whitman said the key issue in the race was beating McGreevey. She said it was crucial that Republican women stand by Schundler, ``to make sure New Jersey gets the governor that we so desperately need.''