Madden Declares Win; Geist Not Conceding

BYLINE: By Wendy Ruderman, Kaitlin Gurney and Robert Moran; Inquirer Staff Writers

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Fred Madden - a political neophyte backed by millions of dollars from Democratic leaders - held a lead of fewer than 100 votes over Republican State Sen. George Geist in a race that went down to the wire yesterday.

Madden, a career state trooper who rose to become acting superintendent under Gov. McGreevey, declared victory in the Fourth District shortly after 10:30 p.m., but Geist refused to concede.

"I've listened to you," a smiling Madden told a crowd of nearly 200 cheering supporters at the Renaissance Room in Washington Township. "You believed in me. I'm going to take that belief to Trenton, and I will be your voice, so help me."

"Any declaration is premature," a somber but defiant Geist told his supporters shortly afterward at the Wedgewood Country Club in Washington Township.

The Democrats won two Assembly seats in the district, with Assemblyman Robert J. Smith and David Mayer beating Stephen Altamuro and Patrick Dougherty. Both Republicans conceded.

Geist said he expected another tally of the votes today, and Republicans said they were researching their legal options. The GOP was also focused on a reported computer glitch in Gloucester Township.

"I wish I could declare either way," Geist said.

His supporters expressed anger at the Democratic campaign, which enjoyed a large fund-raising advantage. Geist echoed that sentiment.

"Once again, the 'machine' continues to defy good government," he said.

At Madden's party, the mood was jubilant, with the candidate displaying a lightheartedness and ease rarely evident during the race.

Alluding to his small lead, Madden joked that "judging from the room, thank goodness every one of you voted."

The race in the Fourth District, which covers parts of Gloucester and Camden Counties, was considered a key one in deciding which party would control the Senate, which is evenly divided, 20-20.

With so much at stake, Democratic leaders poured nearly $3.5 million into the contest, with most of the money used to raise Madden's profile and attack Geist.

The Camden County Democratic Committee, led by George E. Norcross 3d, pumped
$1.7 million into the race.

Norcross arrived at the party with Madden. He did not appear on stage, and he later declined to comment. "I have zippo to say," he said, then continued with numerous cell phone calls as he paced the room.

The amount spent by Madden broke the $1.8 million state legislative record set in 2001 by Democratic State Sen. Stephen Sweeney. Geist raised $879,000, with last-minute infusions coming from the Senate Republican Majority.

At Republican election headquarters, Washington Township party chairman Frank Cianci said the Democratic fund-raising had been "a big hill to climb."

"I expected this would be close," he said. "We didn't think anyone would run away with this. I'm just hoping that George wins. They threw so much money at him. It'll really mean something" if he wins.

The Geist-Madden matchup was arguably this year's nastiest. The candidates hit each other with personal attacks throughout the race.

Madden spent about $2.5 million on television ads, mostly ones that distorted Geist's record. During the final two weeks of the campaign, Geist matched his challenger's air attack, launching an ad on Philadelphia's network television affiliates that portrayed Madden as McGreevey's lackey. Madden was acting state police superintendent until February, when he resigned to run for Senate.

Geist ran without the support of former Republican State Sen. John Matheussen, a popular figure who consistently won in the Democratic-leaning district.

Matheussen paid for automated telephone calls to voters in the district yesterday saying he had not endorsed Geist.

Geist supporters directed some of their anger at Matheussen, who they said would have made the difference for Geist if not for his recent actions.

Matheussen held the seat for 12 years until Geist inherited it this year.

Democrats exploited a discrimination lawsuit filed in April against Geist.

The suit, filed by a former legislative aide, accuses Geist of directing another aide to perform work for his private law office while on taxpayer time. Geist has denied the allegation.

Geist shamed Democrats into pulling a television ad in which Madden boasts of an endorsement by the South Jersey Taxpayer Association, a group that had only three members. The group was incorporated by a law firm connected to Democrats.

Republicans tried to connect Madden to racial profiling when he was with the state police. Yesterday, Madden campaign workers found signs linking him to racial profiling in Gloucester Township and Lindenwold. Madden supporters called the signs insulting and a violation of local ordinances.

Grassroots campaigning was a major strategy yesterday for the Democrats, who organized a massive get-out-the-vote effort. An army of hundreds of volunteers and paid workers hiked through targeted neighborhoods in Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland Counties, passing out flyers and knocking on doors beginning at 6 a.m.

"It's really back-to-basics campaigning," Madden campaign manager Christy Gleason said.

Many were students lured by the promise of earning $180 for working three four-hour shifts.

Some of the workers, who admitted they were there for the cash, could not identify the politicians for whom they campaigned. One young woman, a 17-year-old high school senior who spent the morning putting brochures in mailboxes in Monroe Township, knew she was there to support someone named Madden, but got him confused with Steve Madden, the famous shoe designer.

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