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GOP poll: Schundler gaining
Originally appeared in the Trenton Times on 10/05/01
TRENTON -- The New Jersey chapters of Planned Parenthood and the National Organization for Women endorsed Democrat Jim McGreevey yesterday and promised a major push for him in the governor's race, while the Republican National Committee touted a poll they commissioned that puts Republican Bret Schundler within 10 points of McGreevey.
The McGreevey endorsements, announced yesterday at separate State House news conferences, were not surprising given that McGreevey supports abortion rights, while Schundler opposes them.
The state chapter of Planned Parenthood remained neutral in the last two races for governor, when both major-party candidates were pro-choice, but representatives said yesterday that they would work to get out the word that Schundler is an "extremist."
"The radical road of Bret Schundler leads to outlawing abortions under all circumstances, including rape and even incest," said Jeff Bland, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. "The mainstream road of Jim McGreevey follows New Jersey's longstanding support for each woman's right to choose."
Bland said if Schundler becomes governor, it would jeopardize the $3.4 million the state provides for Planned Parenthood and other family planning agencies that offer services that include cancer screenings for women, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and provision of contraceptives.
Schundler campaign manager Bill Pascoe dismissed Planned Parenthood as a special-interest group.
"Bret Schundler has his own plan for parenthood -- one that's far more in tune with what New Jerseyans want and need than anything offered by yet one more special-interest group endorsing Jim McGreevey," Pascoe said.
"Bret's plan is to give a $500 tax credit to New Jersey parents so that they can defray the cost of their children's out-of-pocket education expenses."
NOW of New Jersey President Elizabeth Volz said her organization plans to join with other groups to fund radio and television ads backing McGreevey because of his positions on abortion, education, gun control and women's health initiatives.
"Jim McGreevey has a clear commitment to the issues that matter most to New Jersey women and their families," Volz said.
Planned Parenthood also endorsed Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Lawrence; Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Ewing; and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton Borough.
Marie Tasy, legislative director of New Jersey Right to Life, said the Planned Parenthood endorsement of McGreevey "demonstrates that he will be a tool of the abortion industry."
The McGreevey campaign yesterday dismissed the RNC poll as biased.
"You don't have to be a cynic to question a poll done by the RNC for a Republican candidate who hasn't caught on with the voters and is getting desperate with just five weeks left in the campaign," said McGreevey spokesman Rich McGrath. He said, among other problems, minorities are underrepresented in the poll.
The RNC poll, which showed McGreevey leading 43 percent to 33 percent, was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates and reportedly surveyed 600 likely voters Sept. 23 and 24.
McGreevey's campaign would not discuss its own internal polls.
Independent polls by Quinnipiac University and the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers released last week gave McGreevey leads of 14 and 15 points, respectively, over Schundler.
Republican State Chairman Sen. Joseph Kyrillos of Red Bank said the RNC poll is a clear sign Schundler is closing on the Democrat.
"We've got a race," he said.
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