Fewer than 72 hours before New Jersey residents head to the polls for the Republican primary, gubernatorial hopeful Chris Christie jumped from rally to rally Saturday to talk with voters.

The former U.S. attorney holds a commanding lead in every poll over both Morris County Assemblyman Rick Merkt and former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, but residents in support of Christie say his seven-year record of fighting crime is what most impresses them.

Residents say the most important issue is property taxes, which Christie is confident he will slash, despite the Democrat-controlled legislature. Christie says his first priority, though, is cutting government spending.

New Jersey residents haven't elected a Republican governor since 1997. The GOP nominee will face off against Gov. Jon Corzine.