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ATLANTIC CITY - Gov. Jon S. Corzine lost the governor's race because he never gave voters sufficient reason to vote for him.

That's what a panel of former New Jersey governors told officials gathered at Atlantic City Convention Center on Wednesday for the state League of Municipalities Conference.

Gov.-elect Chris Christie will have to tread lightly while governing a state facing the same economic challenges that helped swamp Corzine's campaign, the panel said.

"He should have withdrawn. It wasn't the climate to re-elect anybody," said former Democratic Gov. Brendan Byrne said to laughter at the panel discussion at the second day of the annual conference of municipal officials.

"The whole concept of taxation has become venomous," said former Democratic Gov. Jim Florio, himself chased from office in a tax revolt, speaking about the possibilities of Christie raising taxes during his term.

"There is no capability, it seems to me, of someone changing their mind in that same way and surviving," Florio added. "So, then, what we have is a polarized political atmosphere that no one can come and say ‘Well, I said this when I was running, and now I'm going to do something different.' (Radio station New Jersey) 101.5, some of the newspaper chains, some of the organizations, will take out anybody who does that sort of thing."

Former Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco said he did not believe Corzine lost because of the ongoing economic downturn.

He said Corzine was stiff and uncomfortable on the trail and said he did not talk about his accomplishments or future plans enough. He said he should have stopped running after getting to the U.S. Senate.

"Jon Corzine, in the end, didn't give people a reason to vote for him," DiFrancesco said.

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