PISCATAWAY—Chris Daggett, independent candidate for governor, today said his campaign had no knowledge of and no involvement in the eleventh hour use of automated phone calls, which appear aimed at swinging voters into supporting his candidacy.

“Voters hate robocalls. This is just another instance of the dishonest ways Democrats and Republicans try to win campaigns and to fool voters,” said Daggett. “It is little wonder more and more voters are rejecting these kind of desperate dirty tricks and turning to my campaign for a positive message about how to make New Jersey more affordable and competitive.’’

The automated phone calls harshly criticize Republican Chris Christie for backing away from his campaign promises. Near the end of the call, an unidentified woman says voters “should remember Chris Daggett’s words: ‘It’s never wrong to vote for the right person,’” a line used in the independent candidate’s television commercials.

If voters want real change to occur in Trenton, then they need to elect an independent tomorrow, Daggett said.

“I agree with Chris Christie. Tuesday is accountability day. And if we are going to hold these two candidates accountable for the miserable campaigns they have run, the way to do it is to vote for the independent candidate in the race. Hold them accountable. Send a message to Trenton. Vote Chris Daggett for Governor,” Daggett said.

The phone calls appear to be paid for by the Corzine campaign, which the Corzine campaign denies, or by a Democratic group supporting Corzine. However, as Daggett media consultant Bill Hillsman points out, the calls may have been paid for by the Christie campaign or by a Republican group.

“This is straight out of the Karl Rove playbook,” Hillsman said. “You do something that voters hate, like using robocalls, then accuse your opponent of being behind it– even if it’s attacking your own candidate– in order to create a news story sympathetic to your candidate right before the election. It’s childish, and it shows once again that there is only one adult in this election, and that’s Chris Daggett.”