Whitman loses Conservative Fervor

Former fans find her abortion stance troubling; may vote or 3rd parties

By Jennifer Preston
NEW YORK TIMES

TRENTON, N.J.After four years as one of the most prominent Republican
Party moderates, Gov Christie Whitman is finding that her brand of politics
threatens to cost her some badly needed votes from conservatives.

With the election just over a week away, Whitman campaign officials said
they were deeply concerned that the state's Republican base was not firmly
in Whitman's column, particularly since they are facing a surprisingly
strong challenge from the Democratic nominee, state Sen. Jim McGreevey.

During Whitman's 1993 race against Gov. Jim Florio, conservative
Republicans offered volunteers and money.

But in interviews last week, leaders of conservative groups across the
state said they were actively working to defeat Whitman or unable to
generate much enthusiasm for her candidacy.

Whitman's decision to veto state legislation earlier this year that would
have banned certain lateterm abortions has angered antiabortion groups.

Her decision to borrow $2.75 billion for the state pension system has
troubled fiscal conservatives, even though she has cut taxes.

And leaders of groups opposed to gun control say they are finding ~t
difficult to drum up support for her reelection bid.

Potential difficulties for moderates In her first term, Whitman not only
opposed a ban on lateterm abortion procedures, but also did not take on
two other issues conservative Republicans hoped she would: Weakening gun
control laws and pushing for school vouchers.

Although her moderate Republican positions reflect what pollsters describe
as the views of most New Jersey voters, Whitman's difficulties in her
reelection bid signal potential difficulties for moderate Republicans
around the country, some national conservative Republican strategists say.

"In 1993, she became a symbol of what the Republican Party should be," said
iRalph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition who
is now a Republican consultant in Atlanta.

"Now, she is becoming a model of how not to be a winning Republican,
primarily because she has not reached out to build bridges to the social
conservatives."

Antiabortion groups in New Jersey are directing members to vote for one of
two thirdparty candidatesMurray Sabrin and Rich Pezzullo who support
their views, even if it helps McGreevey.

Party offers support

The Republican National Committee is aggressively tryng to assist the
governor's campaign. The party has poured more than $1.1 million into New
Jersev this fall.

National party leaders tried unsuccessfully to deter plans by the Christian
Coalition to distribute 1.1 million voter guides in churches on the Sunday
before the Nov. 4 election that note Whitman's position in support of
abortion rights.

Tom Wilson, Whitman's campaign manager, said that he was confident the
state's more conservative Republicans would turn out and vote for Whitman.

"They know they don't want McGreevey. These are folks who havo been toying
with thc idea uf supporting a thirdparty candidate to send a message,"
said Wilson, adding:

"They are now beginning to realize that a vote for a thirdparty candidate
is a vote for McGreevey, and they do not want him ''

Marie Tasy, legislative director for the state's RighttoLife Committee,
said that was a risk the voters who are opposed to abortion rights are
willing to take.

"We are informing our voters that there are alternatives to the major party
candidates," said Tasy. "This election is about sending a clear message."

Richard Miller, Chairman of New Jersey Sportsmen, said that his
organization members had worked tirelessly on Whitman's behalf in 1993. But
this year, he said, "I am not working against her. I am just having a hard
time, getting anyone to work for her."

Democrat grabs swing votes

McGreevey has been working smce January to solidify his standing among
Democratic voters. He has alsso made inroads with swing votersthe largest
segment of the New Jersey electorateby emphasizing Whitman's inability to
bring down the state's high autn insurance rates and property taxes.

To further complicate Whitman's reelection bid, Sabrin, the Libertarian
Party's candidate, is swaying conservative voters with his message to
eliminate state taxes and dismantle state gOvernHe has also ahandoned the
Libertrarian Party platform in its support of abortion rights and has said
he would ban lateterm ahortions, if elected.

Whitman strongly defends her decision to veto state legislation that would
have banned certain lateterm abortion procedures.

She rewrote the legislation, asking for one exception: "You don't perform
this kind of abortion, except if the life or health, longterm physical
health, of the mother is at stake."

Sen. Rick' Santorum, RPa., who led the fight in the Senate for a ban on
certain lateterm abortions, joined Whitman on the campaign trail Saturday.

Santorum acknowledged that groups who opposed abortion rights had tried to
persuade him agaiinst campaigning on WhitWhitmanman's behalf.

"As far as I am concerned, if I am a prolife voter in New Jersey,
targeting Gov. Whitman doesn't get you anything on the life issue and loses
you a lot on other issues that are important to conservative voters."