(WEST ORANGE, OCTOBER 4) - Republican gubernatorial nominee Bret Schundler, responding to the release of a Republican National Committee poll showing he has cut Jim McGreevey’s summer lead in half, today issued the following statement:

“Today’s poll release from the Republican National Committee bears good news -- it shows we’ve cut Jim McGreevey’s summertime lead from 19 points to just 10 points, with 33 days to go. It’s clear that as voters begin to focus on the choice before them, they’re responding to our message of cutting taxes to keep the economy strong -- and, just as clearly, they’re moving AWAY from Jim McGreevey and his tax-hiking record.

“Let’s be absolutely clear about this -- if I’m elected Governor, I’m going to cut taxes to create jobs and keep our economy strong. I’m going to cut seniors’ school property taxes in half, and I’m going to cut everyone else’s property taxes as well. I’m going to give parents a $500 tax credit for out-of-pocket educational expenses, and I’m going to zero out capital gains taxes for real property investments in depressed areas.

“If Jim McGreevey is elected Governor, on the other hand, he will RAISE your taxes. You can take that to any casino in Atlantic City and bet a bundle on that -- IF you could find a casino willing to make that bet. Jim McGreevey failed to stand up to the special interests and Party bosses and instead cast the crucial deciding vote for Jim Florio’s massive $2.8 billion tax increase, the biggest tax increase in state history -- a tax increase that destroyed 170,000 New Jersey jobs. Jim McGreevey raised property taxes in Woodbridge by 59 percent. And while in the legislature, Jim McGreevey voted to raise sales taxes, income taxes, gasoline taxes, cigarette taxes, and alcohol taxes, and he voted to create NEW state taxes on household soaps, telephone calls, telecommunications equipment, advertising in telephone books, trucking equipment, janitorial services … and even toilet paper!

“The RNC poll is very instructive on what New Jersey voters are thinking. Less than five percent believe the economy is in good shape -- 20 percent believe we’re already in a recession, and 38 percent believe we’re heading into one. By a margin of 66-21 percent, they believe the best way to get the economy moving again is to hold the line on government spending and cut taxes to create jobs. And by a margin of 75-16 percent, they support cutting the state’s capital gains taxes and reducing business taxes to create jobs.

“That’s what voters want to hear about -- what are the plans of the two candidates on how to keep the economy strong. I’ve already made my position clear - I WILL CUT TAXES TO KEEP THE ECONOMY STRONG. Jim McGreevey, by contrast, WILL RAISE TAXES AND KILL JOBS, JUST AS HE DID ONCE BEFORE.”

The RNC polled 600 likely voters on September 23 and 24. The margin of error is +/- 4 percent.