July 23, 2006
New Jersey Going GOP This November?Time will tell, but Robert Novak points out the disturbing news for our Democrats:
New Jersey, dominated by Democrats in recent elections, has become the best Republican prospect for winning a Democratic-held Senate seat this year. New polls last week indicated appointive Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez falling back to an even race with his Republican challenger, State Sen. Tom Kean Jr.Quinnipiac University's poll showed Kean gaining nine percentage points in one month to take a two-point lead. The Monmouth University/Gannett poll's first Senate survey had Kean trailing Menendez by one point, but enjoying a 15-point lead among key independent voters.
Kean's edge in the Quinnipiac survey marked the first time a New Jersey Republican candidate for the Senate had led a summer poll since Sen. Clifford Case in 1972. Big Democratic July margins in the state often are trimmed in November. Sens. Bill Bradley in 1990 and Frank Lautenberg in 1994 enjoyed summer leads of 46 and 26 points, respectively, before winning by three points each.
I still don't quite understand how a political zero with severe ethical issues like Corzine managed to win the governorship last year - but it seems that, finally, New Jersey voters might be willing to give the heave-ho to that Democratic Party which has made New Jersey and political basket-case as well as economically sluggish.
In addition to what it means for New Jersey, the fact that in this very Blue State the GOP should be on the rise is, in my view, a strong indicator of the parlous state of the Democratic Party these days. They shouldn't have to be defending New Jersey in a year when just six weeks ago the conventional wisdom was for a Democratic sweep this November. I didn't believe it then, and I believe it even less now - they are falling apart over there in the Democratic Party.
Posted by Mark Noonan on July 23, 2006 03:07 AM
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Comments
From your ilps to G-ds ears.We can only hope that people are finally wising up to the Dems policys of tax and spend ETC.
Posted by: jainphx at July 23, 2006 01:37 PM
The fact remains that congressional elections are mostly local. New Jersey is probably tiring of the Democrat corruption. Can't imagine its powerful gambling interests are all that thrilled with Corzine/Menendez operation.
The Democrats' lack of agenda is so obvious. They are a one trick pony. They can do some remarkable damage to public morale but since their real agenda is repugnant to most of the population they seem to stand for nothing.
And something usually beats nothing.
Posted by: The Real Sporer at July 23, 2006 09:10 PM
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