Governor Palin Refutes Unfounded Daggett Claims
A little firestorm has arisen over the past day or so between Independent candidate Chris Daggett and Sarah Palin.
In a radio interview Daggett claimed that national Republicans were pressuring him to drop from the race.
Former New Jersey Environmental Commissioner Chris Daggett said Wednesday morning he received pressure from national Republicans to drop out of the governor’s race.
Republicans worry that Daggett, an independent candidate who is polling in the double-digits, could take enough votes away from former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (R) to give Gov. Jon Corzine (D) a second term.
Subsequent to this, the Daggett campaign also started pointing the finger specifically at Sarah Palin. This Twitter message appears on the Daggett Twitter page:
RT @KevinGass: I could not make this up. Sarah Palin just asked Chris to pull out of race. Republicans getting scared much? #standup4nj
The tweet does not cite any quote or evidence to support the claim. As best I can tell, the Dagget people are referring to a Facebook post by Palin from the other day. But her post didn’t even mention Daggett. Here is the relevant portion:
Let’s consider the governor’s race in New Jersey. The state has the highest tax burden in the country and the incumbent Democrat governor has only added to the economic burden. He eliminated property tax rebates for middle class homeowners while the sales tax increased. Altogether, taxes on the people in the region have increased by billions of dollars. It’s no surprise that New Jersey has the highest unemployment rate in the region! Thankfully, there is an alternative. Residents there will be better off under an administration that understands the benefits that result when workers are allowed to keep more of what they earn. Watch New Jersey’s economy come alive under new leadership that will put government back on the side of the people! Chris Christie promises this new leadership.
Fortunately, New Jersey’s Democrat governor is being held accountable with the RGA spending $7 million in the New York and Philadelphia media markets telling the truth about a liberal administrative record while highlighting New Jersey’s tax-hiking ways and reminding voters there is an alternative! The NY and Philly markets are the most expensive in the nation though, so the RGA is requesting help to stay on the air. Visit http://www.rga.org/initiatives/comeback-fund/.
Doesn’t seem to me that the Daggett people have a leg to stand on here. And Governor Palin has called them on it:
Despite what candidate Chris Daggett is claiming, I have never contacted him or his campaign. I have never asked him to drop out of the NJ Governor’s race. Now, if a politician is going to play loose with facts like this, the electorate needs to know it.
So, to the good people of New Jersey, please know that Daggett’s claims are false. I’ve never even suggested he should drop out of the race. But, come to think of it…
- Sarah Palin
Well, so much for Daggett playing up the idea that he’s more politically pure than Christie and Corzine. This incident shows us that he’s anything but.
Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!
