Four Feisty GOP Foes Battle for Chance to Challenge Booker (via NJSpotlight)
As rising political star Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) prepares for an uncontested primary, the four Republicans auditioning to oppose him remain far from the spotlight. They are not complete unknowns. One was prominent in politics long ago. Two have been…
Rich Pezzullo
The last man who challenged an incumbent John Bennett is sticking with the Monmouth County Republican Chairman in his race against Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden.
Rich Pezzullo, a candidate for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in the June 3 primary, told Save Jersey that he’s all in for Bennett to continue to lead the Monmouth GOP.
“He is the Republican in Monmouth county who has known me as a political figure the longest – almost 20 years,” Pezzullo told Save Jersey on Thursday. “He’s set a good example for me as a professional, politician and organizer. I’ve seen him in his roles as a political opponent and political partner. I’ve known him as he grieved the loss of his father, gave his daughters off to marriage and celebrated the birth of his grandchildren. It would be hard to have so much respect for a person and entertain the thought of not supporting him when his record is full of committed service, personal sacrifice and genuine accomplishments.”
Pezzullo, of Freehold, challenged Bennett in the GOP primary for State Senate in 2003 in what was then the 12th legislative district. Bennett was the Senate Co-President with Senator Richard Cody in the 20-20 Senate during the first two years of the McGreevey Administration. Bennett spent $350,000 to beat back Pezzullo’s challenge and the Asbury Park Press, which made Bennett’s $8,000 billing error as Marlboro Township Attorney and nepotism in his legislative office front page news for months.
Bennett prevailed against Pezzullo in the 2003 primary but lost his Senate seat to Ellen Karcher, then Marlboro’s Council President, that November and the GOP lost their equal footing with the Democrats in the Senate.
Pezzullo has the Monmouth County Republican line in his U.S. Senate primary race against Jeff Bell, Brian Goldberg and Murray Sabrin.
Posted: May 15th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 U.S. Senate race, John Bennett, Monmouth County, Shaun Golden, Uncategorized | Tags: 2014 U.S. Senate race, John Bennett, Monmouth GOP, Monmouth GOP Chairman's race, Rich Pezzullo, Shaun Golden | 8 Comments »
By Art Gallagher, [email protected]
When disaster hits, natural or man made, Americans put aside their differences and come together to handle the emergency.
We saw it with 9-11. Most recently in New Jersey we saw it with Superstorm Sandy.
Once the emergency is over and the federal money is flowing, the politics…partisanship and patronage starts. We saw it with 9-11. We’re living it with Sandy.
Posted: April 13th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Congressional Races, 2014 Elections, 2014 U.S. Senate race, 2016 Presidential Politics, 2017 NJ Gubernatorial Politics, Bob Menendez, Chris Christie, Chris Smith, Christie Administration, Congress, Cory Booker, Democrats, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Homland Security, Frank Pallone, George W Bush, Housing, Hurricane Sandy, Jennifer Beck, Jersey Shore, NJ Democrats, NJ State Legislature, RREM, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: Congressman Chris Smith, Congressman Frank Pallone, Disaster Recovery, Disaster Relief, HUD, New Jersey Congressional Delegation, RREM, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Jennifer Beck, Shaun Donovan, Superstorm Sandy | Comments Off on The Politics Of Disaster Relief
New Jersey Voters Disapprove of the State Legislature, 36-48%
By Art Gallagher, [email protected]
Governor Chris Christie at Belmar Town Hall. photo by Art Gallagher
A Quinnipiac Poll released this morning indicates that, despite the beating he has been taking in the local and national media since January, Governor Chris Christie has higher approval ratings than President Barack Obama, Senator Bob Menendez and Senator Cory Booker, among New Jersey voters.
Quinnipiac didn’t spin the poll that way in their narrative, but that is what the numbers indicate. Most of the media coverage about this poll will be negative for Christie. Too many reporters and editors read the spin and not the numbers.
There is bad news for Christie in this poll. His approval rating has dropped to 49-44% since January when it was 55-38%.
82% of Republicans and 54% of Independents approve of Christie’s job performance. Only 23% of Democrats give the Guv love.
The Governor’s bully rating is higher than ever before. Voters are now evenly split 48-48 on whether he’s a leader or a bully. In January they said he was more of a leader by 54-40 margin.
56% of voters think the Mastro Report, the internal investigation commissioned by the Governor’s Office that exonerated Christie from any involvement in the Bridgegate scandal was a “whitewash.” Voters are split 46-46 over whether the legislative investigation into Bridgegate lead by Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senator Loretta Weinberg is a legitimate investigation or a political witch-hunt.
Voters have a net negative impression of the State Legislature that crosses all party lines. Republicans disapprove of legislature 40-45, Democrats 40-43 and Independents 33-53. The Legislature’s overall approval numbers are negative 36-48.
Posted: April 9th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 U.S. Senate race, 2016 Presidential Politics, Barack Obama, Bob Menendez, Chris Christie, Cory Booker, NJ State Legislature, Quinnipiac poll | Tags: Barack Obama, Bob Menendez, Chris Christie, Cory Booker, NJ State Legislature, Quinnipiac poll | Comments Off on Quinnipiac Poll: New Jersey Voters Approve Of Christie More Than Obama, Menendez or Booker© Copyright 2024 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved