Gay Marriage Enters NJ Gov. Race

Just when it seemed the New Jersey gubernatorial race would be dominated almost entirely by economic issues, Republican candidate Chris Christie injected gay marriage into the debate with a mailer that appears to be a last-minute scare tactic.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor appointed by President George W. Bush, sent a mailing to voters over the weekend that attempted to "play the gay card" against Democratic incumbent governor Jon Corzine and independent candidate Christopher Daggett, according to Adam Bink, who posted the mailing at the Bilerico Project.

"Jon Corzine and Christopher Daggett say they would legalize same-sex marriage," says the mailer from the Christie campaign. "Chris Christie says he supports a Marriage Protection Amendment that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman. Jon Corzine and Christopher Daggett say they want to convert all same-sex civil unions to marriages. Chris Christie opposes that plan. When you vote this Tuesday, please vote for the candidate that shares your values."

Corzine and Christie, the frontrunners, remain locked in a heated contest, one of only two gubernatorial races in the nation to be decided by this Tuesday's election. The other race takes place in Virginia.

The New Jersey legislature is widely expected to vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the lame-duck session following the election. Governor Corzine has pledged to sign the bill. Christie opposes marriage equality.