Rebovich Institute Cancels Gubernatorial Campaign Recap

Ben Dworkin, Director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, introduces U.S. Senate candidate Steve Lonegan at a September 24, 2013 event.

Rider University’s Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics has cancelled its 2013 Campaign Managers Conference.  The annual event is designed as a open discussion of the previous year’s general election featuring key players from each party.

The recent scandals over the George Washington Bridge lane closures and allegations that the Christie Administration has been dolling out federal Sandy relief money with political and economic strings attached is the reason for the cancellation of this year’s event which was schedule for Thursday, February 20th.

Benjamin Dworkin, Executive Director of the Institute issued the following statement:

The 2013 gubernatorial campaign in New Jersey was a fascinating race, and we had eagerly looked forward to focusing on this particular race during the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics’ Campaign Managers Conference – our annual look at how modern campaigns are run.

Unfortunately, due to recent controversies and ongoing investigations, it has become clear that a full discussion of the campaign is not possible at this time. Therefore, the Rebovich Institute has chosen to cancel the conference.

We want to thank all of our panelists, including Hon. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Hon. Bill Palatucci, Adam Geller, David Turner and Michael DuHaime for their willingness to participate. We look forward to a meaningful discussion of this campaign at some point in the future.

We apologize for any inconvenience to our panelists, supporters, and for all others planning to attend this event.

 

The next public event for the Rebovich Institute will be Leadership & Comedy: An Evening with Hon. Jon Bramnick, NJ Assembly Republican Leader, on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 7 p.m.

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Round 2: Christie-Buono Debate

Governor Chris Christie and his Democratic opponent in the November 5 general election, State Senator Barbara Buono, will face off in their second and final debate tonight from 8PM till 9:30PM.

The debate will be broadcast live from Montclair State University on NJTV and CSpan.

It will be livestreamed via YouTube here.

NJTV’s Mike Schneider will be the moderator.

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Christie Opens 34% Lead: Quinnipiac

Governor Chris Christie is leading State Senator Barbara Buono  by 34%, 64-30, in his bid for a second term as New Jersey’s Governor, according to Quinnipiac University’s first poll of likely voters in the November 6 general election.

Christie leads 61 – 32 percent among women and 69 – 26 percent among men, 94 – 3 percent among Republicans and 69 – 23 percent among independent voters.  Even 35% of Democrats  intend to vote for the Republican governor.

Only 5 percent of likely voters are undecided and another 8 percent who name a candidate say there is a “good chance” they will change their mind in the next six weeks.

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Codey’s running for Governor

Star Ledger photo

Former Acting Governor Richard Codey’s media stunt guised as an undercover investigation into the plight of homeless men in Newark is a sure sign that the author/insurance salesman/funeral director/legislator will be a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next year.

Codey’s investigation was so “undercover” that he invited The Star Ledger to photograph him getting made up for his 9PM visit to Newark’s Goodwill Mission last night.   Codey appeared on Good Day New York and the John Gambling radio show this morning to get free media talk about the findings of his investigation.  Those TV and radio producers move fast!

Codey tweeted about his appearances and make up this morning.

Codey’s investigation revealed that homeless men are turned away from shelters if they are not on welfare.  If they are on welfare, they have to turn over their checks if they want to spend the night.  Codey is not on welfare.  He should have offered his watch.

While Codey’s stunt will do more for his political prospects than for Newark’s homeless, he did prove that he doesn’t need the taxpayer funded security detail he was enjoying before Governor Christie canceled it last December.

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