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He said he called Christie minutes before and congratulated him on becoming governor.
"Chris was gracious in his response and I told him we will work together to make sure the transition is smooth,'' Corzine said. "That is my responsibility, that is my administration's responsibility and I know we will live up to it.
"It has been a long, hard fought campaign and I know everyone here tonight tonight put their heart into it,'' the governor said. "It has been been an incredible, incredible journey together and I am grateful to all New Jerseyans. We've had a lot of time to talk about jobs, health care, a new energy policy, a lot of things on the peoples' agenda. It wasn't easy but we have a bright future ahead for New Jersey if we stay focused on the things that matter and I will tell you I intend to do that the rest of my life.
"This is a moment where there is a little sadness,'' Corzine said, "but I will tell you I was never more honored to serve people as a U.S. senator and to be governor of this great state has been a joy I would never have imagined. We made an impact on people's lives and I'm proud of my administration."
Corzine called on Democrats to continue to fight for the party's principles at the local, state and national level. He thanked Daggett for making the campaign "more clear, more sharply focused. He was a very positive impact on the campaign.''
Corzine concluded by joking, "By the way, my mother is pretty happy tonight. She is a registered Republican but she is 93 year old so I think we will move beyond that.''
"I will tell you I was never more honored to serve people as a U.S. senator and to be governor of this great state has been a joy I would never have imagined.''- Jon Corzine Corzine's defeat was not only an embarrassment for him but for President Obama who got behind the campaign in a seemingly unprecedented way, visiting the state on three different occasions.
Obama was concerned that the election of a Republican in a Democratic state would appear as a referendum on his first year in office and give the GOP renewed hope for the important mid-term Congressional elections next year.
In August, fearing a traditional Democratic state could elect a Republican governor a year before the important Congressional mid-term elections, President Obama sent close political advisors to meet with Corzine and his campaign staff on how to turn his re-election bid around.
Joel Benenson, Obama‘s chief pollster in 2008, became a key figure in the Corzine campaign. A major part of the effort to overcome Christie involved Obama leading four rallies for Corzine during three visits to the state. Corzine campaign staff also brought in Vice President Biden, former president Bill Clinton, former vice president Al Gore, and Caroline and Robert Kennedy Jr.
National Democratic Chairman Tim Kaine commented on the Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia and appeared to indicate national Democrats expected a Corzine defeat.
"In both Virginia and New Jersey we had strong candidates who were running against a significant historical tide and faced uphill battles from the start of this campaign. In New Jersey, the party in power in the White House hasn't won the governor's office since 1985 and the party in power in the White house hasn't won the governor's office in Virginia since 1977. It would have been historic if not unprecedented to win one or both of these races given historical trends."
Daggett conceded at 9:44 p.m. at his election night headquarters at the Dolce in Basking Ridge.
"When we do find out who won we need to get behind that person and support that person with all the energy we had in this campaign whether it is Chris Christie or Jon Corzine,'' Daggett said. "With all the problems we face in New Jersey we really need to get behind that person. Whoever wins tonight deserves our total support.
Daggett noted that his campaign received national attention.
"No one could have imagined such a small group of people having such impact,'' he said. "Collectively, we were the mouse that roared.''
Christie, 47, of Mendham, a former Morris County freeholder, campaigned that he would clean up state government while cutting spending, property taxes and business taxes to help restore the state's economy. While voters listed the economy as their major concern, the Democrats focused on Christie's position that he would try to cut health coverage costs by charging he would eliminated state-mandated mammogram coverage. Christie was also criticized for not offering specifics on how he would cut state spending while also reducing property taxes but he said he would not make promises until he saw the state government's problems from the governor's chair.
Corzine, 62, accepts only $1 a year as governor. He campaigned on what he saw as his record for his first term, creating a state economic recovery program, overcoming major budget deficits, restoring property tax rebates for the middle class, cutting crime and providing more health care, especially 100,000 children.
Daggett, 57, of Basking Ridge, a former federal and state environment protection official, garnered positive attention for proposing to cut taxes for all property owners by a maximum of $2,500 while extending the sales tax to luxury items usually purchased by higher-income people.
Political observers saw Daggett as a spoiler who would draw votes away from Corzine and Christie. In the end, he drew fewer votes than expected.
