Get Ready To See More Of These If Public Question #2, Ongoing Minimum Wage Hikes, Passes

And scenes like this will be memories:

• Tweet

Buono would raise sale taxes

Lost in the headlines of yesterday’s special election is the fact that State Senator Barbara Buono would not rule out raising New Jersey’s 7% sales tax, if elected governor, during her debate with Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday night.

Governor Christie noted that the Democrats, with Buono as the Senate Budget Chair, shut down New Jersey’s government in 2006 when Jon Corzine was governor, because they couldn’t agree how high to raise the sales tax.

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Declarn O’Scanlon issued the following statement regarding Buono’s  taxing vision for New Jersey:

“At a time when New Jersey is in the middle of an economic recovery, she has no concept of what a public policy disaster that proposal would be to creating jobs and maintaining our momentum. Increasing the sales tax is regressive and would further impact the most heavily taxed people in the country. It effectively sends the message to consumers to shop elsewhere and keeps New Jersey from being competitive with surrounding states. I am glad she no longer chairs the Senate Budget Committee. We are still trying to recover from the damage done to our economy.

• Tweet

What kind of U.S. senator will Cory Booker be?

What kind of U.S. senator will Cory Booker be? (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — Cory Booker, who captured national attention as Newark’s charismatic mayor, now joins the world’s most exclusive political club after a U.S. Senate campaign built on big ideas and the vow to be a healer in politically polarized Washington…

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Lonegan Concedes

photo credit: Charles Measley

Former Mayor Steve Lonegan conceded the Special U.S. Senate election to Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Lonegan was funny and gracious in his concession speech. “I said to myself, ‘Who wants that job anyway?'”

He thanked Governor Chris Christie for his ” bookend support” from his endorsement to robo calls.  Lonegan said he couldn’t expect anymore from Christie, “other than putting up lawn signs, and the thought of Christie running up and down the highway putting up lawn signs…”

Lonegan congratulated Booker and said , “May God be with him with the decisions he has to make.”

Lonegan said he has done his part in serving the country and is going back to the public sector.

• Tweet

AP calls Special Senate Election for Booker

The Associated Press just called the NJ Special Election for U.S. Senate for Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

With 58% of the districts reporting, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is leading by 13%, 56%-43%.

• Tweet

With 47% of the districts reporting statewide, Booker up by 13

Very slow reporting from Morris and Somerset, which should be strong for Lonegan,  Mercer slow to report, they should be strong for Booker.

Lonegan underperforming in Monmouth and Burlington.

• Tweet

Statewide, it’s a 5 point race

With 30% of the districts reporting statewide, Cory Booker is leading Steve Lonegan 52% to 47%.

• Tweet

Lonegan Leads By 9% In Monmouth County

GOP nominee for U.S. Senate Steve Lonegan is leading the vote count in Monmouth County 54% to 45% with 91% of the voting districts reporting.

The Monmouth voter turnout reported so far is 22%.

Lonegan needs a higher turnout and a wider margin in Monmouth County to win statewide.

• Tweet

Early Lead for Booker

Gloucester County is the first to report results in the Special U.S. Senate Election.  Booker 51.3% with 2751 votes, Lonegan 45.7% with 2450 votes.

• Tweet

Long Morning Lines in GOP Areas

By Matt Rooney, SaveJersey.com

Don’t get too excited, Save Jerseyans.

It’s very, very early. The polls are open until 8:00 p.m. tonight. Did I mention it’s early?

That being said, I’ve heard anecdotal but consistent turnout reports this morning that bode well for a strong Lonegan performance in today’s #njsen special election.

Example? More than one person has told me about voting lines wrapping out-the-door in Oakland, New Jersey. The Bergen County community of just under 13,000 is home to approximately 1,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats and voted 55.8% for John McCain in 2008.

PolitickerNJ is reporting robust Booker turnout in Essex County but MoreMonmouthMusings cites a source who says it’s unusually quiet in Newark’s East Ward…

We’ve received similar reports from some other Republican-leaning towns around the state such as the affluent bedroom community of Moorestown in Burlington County.

Read the rest of this entry>

• Tweet