Corzine Dismisses Idea Obama Campaigning in New Jersey Because Dems Worried

Facing a gubernatorial race in New Jersey that will go down to the wire Tuesday, Gov. Jon Corzine on Saturday brushed off speculation that the election is causing concern for President Obama, who is making an unprecedented number of campaign visits there.

Corzine, who is seeking a second term, told Fox News that Obama's schedule has been set for awhile.

"This is not a last minute decision," he said. "This is a decision that was part of a plan to work together."

Obama has campaigned vigorously for Corzine in the state -- including launching television and radio ads in his support. Obama will make two stops in New Jersey on Saturday and already has campaigned for Corzine twice.

By contrast, Obama has stopped campaigning for Democrat Creigh Deeds, who will need a miracle, according to polls, to defeat Republican Bob McDonnell in Virginia's gubernatorial race.

In New Jersey, Corzine trailed Republican Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, during the summer, prompting political observers to speculate whether the White House would seek to have Corzine replaced with a more viable candidate.

But Corzine rejected the notion that Obama is campaigning out of concern.

Corzine pointed to a White House report that claimed Obama's $787 billion stimulus package created or saved about 30,000 jobs in the state and added that his spending program has added up to 40,000 jobs.

"We've been partners on turning our economy around, investing in jobs, saving jobs," he said. "I think this is just the president saying we're working together."

Corzine acknowledged a Democratic victory on Tuesday would benefit the president.

"I think at the end of the day, the most important issues that people will consider when they go to the booths are those things here in New Jersey," he said.

"But if it fires up my base, if it fires up Democrats and people who are interested in keeping the momentum that President Obama has laid down on turning our nation around from the disastrous eight years of the Bush administration…and gets us moving in that direction, I think that's great."

Polls show the candidates are in a statistical dead heat.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University survey shows that 41 percent of likely New Jersey voters back Christie while 39 percent favor Corzine.

Fourteen percent of respondents support independent candidate Chris Daggett.

Fox News' Molly Line contributed to this report.