Watch N.J. Gubernatorial Debate Replay

WAYNE, N.J. - Fox 29's Thomas Drayton was among the panelists who spent Friday night firing questions at New Jersey's governor and two hopefuls in the second candidates' debate at William Patterson University.

The 90-minute debate was a spirited three-way showdown, with the incumbent Democrat, the front-running Republican challenger and a strong independent candidate doing battle over a wide variety of issues, Fox 29's Bruce Gordon reported.

Video: Watch The Entire Debate

Candidate Bios: Christie | Corzine | Daggett

The three sparred over public funding for education and property tax relief, on same-sex marriage and illegal immigration.

But in the end, this debate, like so many others, boiled down to some very basic themes.

Corzine highlighted his accomplishments in office, including gains in the number of children who have health insurance and a revision in the school funding formula.

"I've cut the budget two years in a row – first time in the history of the state, over $5 billion – while we're increasing expenditures on education and making sure that our performance is outstanding in our schools," Gov. Jon S. Corzine said.

Republican Chris Christie said New Jersey's high unemployment rate and high taxes are evidence the state is "broken" and needs new leadership to fix it.

"Do believe that New Jersey, over the last four years has improved?" Christie asked. "Do you believe your life has improved? Do you think New Jersey is more affordable today than it was four years ago? Do you believe that, if we continue the same policies, that we will get a different result?"

And independent Chris Daggett said both major-party candidates represent "politics as usual" and only an unbeholden independent can turn things around.

"The Star-Ledger endorsed me on Sunday with a ringing endorsement but, more importantly, a ringing indictment of the two-party systems in this state because it's broken," Daggett said. "It's broken, and I know from traveling around this state that more people it's broken than don't. And now, though, the two candidates on either side of me are trying to scare you into believing that an independent can't win or can't govern. Wrong!"

There was some level of agreement. All three candidates said that they favor Bruce Springsteen over Jon Bonjovi, and all three said that they'd root for the Giants over the Eagles.

So, who won the debate? Decide for yourself. It airs in its entirety Saturday at 2 p.m. on Fox 29.