The top two candidates for governor drew on celebrities from each party Friday, continuing a para... Big names, tight race...

The top two candidates for governor drew on celebrities from each party Friday, continuing a parade of political heavyweights designed to bolster support in what has become a narrow race.

U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton stopped in Edison to support Democratic nominee Jon Corzine at a boisterous campaign rally of 2,000 supporters, mostly women.

Republican nominee Doug Forrester welcomed Arizona's senior U.S. Sen. John McCain for an afternoon campaign rally at Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County that drew 200 veterans, GOP faithful and curious onlookers. He endorsed Forrester as a reformer with the skill to tackle corruption.

"You've got a candidate that can restore that faith and confidence and integrity in the State House of New Jersey," said McCain, who forged a national reputation as a reformer after co-authoring a landmark campaign finance law.

"How bad does it have to be for the average person on the street to believe that corruption is the number one issue?" Forrester said. "We're going to take it back and put government back in the hands of the people."

The visit by McCain, a wily, independent-minded Republican moderate, comes at a time when Corzine and the Democrats continue to paint Forrester as a right-wing clone of President Bush, who polls show is unpopular with most New Jersey voters. Forrester has also stumped with former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, another leading Republican moderate.

Corzine had been the expected favorite in the contest for governor, running as a liberal first-term senator in a state where Democrats enjoy strong advantages.

About 4.8 million people are registered to vote in New Jersey. Democrats count just over 1.1 million registered voters to the 854,000 for Republicans. About 2.8 million registered voters declare no party affiliation, but the majority tends to vote for Democrats.

Around the same time of McCain's visit, Corzine supporters turned out to see the gubernatorial candidate and Clinton. Some waved copies of Clinton's autobiography in the air and called her name out as she entered the reception hall at The Pines Manor.

Clinton recalled how she and Corzine became freshman senators together in 2000, and how they were relegated to the "back, back, back" of the Senate chambers. Her recollections were peppered with plenty of Republican bashing.

A defining moment in Corzine's early political life was the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Clinton said, explaining that Corzine fought to create the 9/11 Commission. The former first lady also praised her colleague for fighting Bush on plans to partially privatize Social Security.

Standing before a Jon Corzine banner that said "The choice for Women. The Choice for New Jersey," Clinton praised Corzine for caring about issues that are important to women such as stem cell research and abortion rights.

Before Clinton spoke, Corzine told the crowd that he promised to make women's issues a priority if elected. He said he would fight to keep Douglass College at Rutgers University all women, a pledge that elicited cheers from the crowd. He also promised to ensure children receive quality education at quality schools.

Most polls give Corzine a single-digit lead. Many of those same surveys say that Forrester's corruption message is working, but give Corzine the edge on several issues including property tax reform and state finances.

Both men are spending record amounts - nearly all of it from their own bank accounts - on television advertising that has become increasingly negative.

Corzine paints Forrester as "extreme" for his support of Bush's tax cuts and judicial nominees. The Democrat also attacks Forrester for the Republican's lukewarm support for stem cell research.

Forrester's millions have gone to ads that try to link Corzine to former Gov. James E. McGreevey, who resigned amid a sex scandal involving a former homeland security aide, as well as other Democrats tainted by corruption scandals. Other Forrester ads claim Corzine routinely votes to raise taxes.

Corzine used the personal fortune he earned as head of Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs to finance his Senate run. Through the years he has given millions to Democrats and to special interest groups that support Democratic efforts.

Forrester, who was once a deputy state treasurer, made millions as head of BeneCard Services, a prescription drug benefits company that has many contracts with local governments.

McCain, who is also toying with a presidential run in 2008, said his visit had been planned for several weeks and that he was not in New Jersey to draw attention from Clinton's visit. McCain's visit was the second time he stumped for Forrester. The first came in 2002 during Forrester's unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate.

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