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Push For North Jersey Casinos Loses Its Financial Supporters

by KYW's David Madden

ROSELAND, NJ (CBS) -- The major financial drivers behind a voter referendum that would pave the way for two casinos in North Jersey are pulling the plug on their paid media campaign.

It's not exactly a death knell on the proposed constitutional amendment, but the people behind the "Our Turn" campaign cite internal polling that indicates the question will more than likely fail in November by a 50 to 37% margin. So they won't spend any more money on it.

In a joint statement, financiers Paul Fireman and Jeff Gural said, "The current political climate in New Jersey and voters' concerns about the lack of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming."

The November vote will still take place, but without the advertising push, it's hard to see those numbers turn around.

Assuming the question is rejected, it can be revisited in two years.

The leaders of the anti-expansion campaign, called Trenton's Bad Bet, did not return a request for comment, and a spokesman for State Senate President Steve Sweeney, who pushed for the referendum question, declined an opportunity to comment.

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