Never Underestimate Chris Christie

By Art Gallagher

Who else but Chris Christie could pull off an October surprise in June?

When the Governor’s announcement of a Special U.S. Senate election in October prompted knee-jerk angry responses from national Republicans, New Jersey Democrats and New Jersey wingnuts, I figured he must be onto something good.

As my young friend, New Jersey Rising Star Matt Rooney pointed out this morning, there was a better than even risk that the NJ Supreme Court would side with Trenton Democrats and overrule Christie if he appointed a temporary Senator to serve until November of 2014.  The NJ Supremes could then overreach their authority and dictate that the special election be held in November of this year.

I once heard an honest Judge congratulate litigants for settling their differences, for keeping their destinies in their own hands, rather than turn their fates over to unpredictable third parties.  By choosing the route to fill the late Senator Frank Lautenberg’s seat that he did, Christie limited the possibility that his gubernatorial power would be taken over by the Court.

The conventional punditry seems to assume that whichever Republican Christie chooses to temporally fill the seat until the special election will inevitably lose to Newark Mayor Cory Booker in October.  I’m not convinced that is the case.

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Understanding October Logic

Faced with Three Bad Options, Christie’s U.S. Senate Strategy Might Be the Least Terrible

By Matt Rooney, SaveJersey.com

You’ve already heard from plenty of angry conservatives/Republicans who think Governor Christie’s uber-controversial U.S. Senate vacancy timeline is tantamount to high treason. Our own Irwin Fletcher is on record believing it’s a huge mistake.

Allow me to play devil’s advocate for a moment without risking a verbal stoning from a digital lynch mob?

When Frank Lautenberg left this earth, Save Jerseyans, Chris Christie was faced with three legal options:

(1) Hold a special U.S. Senate election coinciding with this November’s general election;

(2) Wait until November 2014 for a vote; or

(3) Pick a date between now and November for a separate special election.

Let’s hypothesize how each scenario would likely pan out for the GOP…

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“An Amazing Moment”

~ Declan O’Scanlon

With remarkable teamwork on the part of the candidates, county and municipal leaders and key members of the legislative delegation outside of the 13th legislative district, the Monmouth County Republican Organization earned the resounding endorsement of a Republican electorate that has proven over the years that performance and integrity matter far more to them than party loyalty.

Big egos checked, big leaders pulled together to support each other.  A real team emerged.

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It’s Over

With over 62% of the voting districts in LD 13 reporting, State Senator Joe Kyrillos has won the GOP nomination for another term in Trenton’s upper chamber, according to MoreMonmouthMusings’ statistical expert team.

Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon have also been renominated.

Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso have been renominated with over 80% of the vote with 80% of the districts reporting in the county.

Monmouth County GOP Chairman John Bennett, celebrating with about 250 supporters at the Lincroft Inn in Middletown has declared victory of the LD 13 legislators and counter incumbents.

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Wtih 50% of of districts reporting, Incumbents continue to dominate

The fat ladies are about to sing at the bunker in Red Bank.

With 51% of the precincts reporting, Senator Joe Kyrillos has 78% of the vote against Bayshore Tea Party Group backed challenger Leigh-Ann Bellew.

Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon have similar results.

On the county level, with 58% of the precincts reporting, Sheriff Shaun Golden is winning with 81%.

Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso are both exceeding 80%.

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As the numbers come in, the incumbents continue to dominate

With 9% of the precincts reporting in LD 13, Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon are leading with 80% of the vote.

In the County race from Sheriff and Freeholder, Sheriff Shaun Golden has over 82% of the vote with 17% of the precincts reporting.   Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso also exceed 80% of the vote.

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Monmouth County Incumbents Have Early, Huge Lead

The first and early reports from the Monmouth County Board of Elections show Senator Joe Kyrillos beating Bayshore Tea Party Group backed challenger Leigh-Ann Bellew easily.

With 223 votes reported, Kyrillos has 195, or 87%.

The Assembly incumbents, Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon are winning by a similar margin.

In the Monmouth County Sheriff’s race, incumbent Shaun Golden has 82% of the vote with four precincts of 458 reporting.

Incumbent Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso are likewise dominating their challengers.

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Christie’s Announcement Of U.S. Senate Special Election

Transcript:

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Kyrillos was awakened by dirty trick robo call. Blames call on Bellew campaign

Sen. Joe Kyrillos and Mayor Fred Rast greeting voters in Atlantic Highlands. photo by Art Gallagher

In a get out the vote email to his supporters this afternoon, State Senator Joe Kyrillos said that he and his wife were awakened at 4am this morning by the dirty trick robo call, and that his primary opponents are responsible for the call.

I also want to address the 4 a.m. robo-call many are talking about. Susan and I were awoken by it as well, and I can assure you it’s not how we wanted to start our day either. The fact is it was a dirty trick by our opponents who wanted to make it look like it came from our campaign. The matter is being covered by several news outlets and the incident is being investigated by the prosecutor’s office. It is a shame politics has come to this.

No one from the Bellew for State Senate campaign or the Bayshore Tea Party Group have responded to multiple requests for comment on the robo call.

They have the right to remain silent.

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Christie Calls For Special U.S. Senate Election

Governor Chris Christie announced this afternoon that there will be a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Frank Lautenberg’s seat for October 16.  A primary will be held on August 13.

Christie has not yet decided who he will appoint the to fill the seat until October 16.  He said he expects to make the appointment in time for the Senate’s voting session next week.

Christie said he didn’t think it was right that he make an appointment through November 2014.

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