The Auditor: Christie to help Lonegan retire campaign debt, Buono loses Metuchen and more

The Auditor: Christie to help Lonegan retire campaign debt, Buono loses Metuchen and more (via NJ.com)

Gov. Chris Christie isn’t done helping Steve Lonegan, the former Republican U.S. Senate candidate. The Auditor is told that Christie — who endorsed Lonegan, his former rival, and held one fundraiser for him during his unsuccessful campaign against…

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Buono and husband earned more than $500K in 2012

Buono and husband earned more than $500K in 2012 (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — Barbara Buono, the Democratic candidate for governor, and her husband, a physician, earned more than a half a million dollars last year, according to tax returns released today by Buono’s campaign. The tax return — which shows a combined…

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Christie Drops Appeal To Gay Marriage Decision

Same Sex Nuptials Are Now Certain To Remain Legal in New Jersey

Kissing Brides, Heather Jensen and Amy Quinn, an Asbury Park Councilwoman, celebrate their marriage shortly after midnight this morning. facebook photo

Given the State Supreme Court’s signal that the Christie administration would not prevail in its appeal of Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson’s decision compelling the State to grant same sex couples the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples, Governor Chris Christie withdrew his appeal today, the first day that gay couples can wed in New Jersey under Jacobson’s order and the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay that order.

“Although the governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law,” said Colin Reed, a spokesman for Christie. “The governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his administration enforces the law as dictated by the New Jersey Supreme Court.”

State Senator Mike Doherty issued a statement condemning Christie for caving to the activist judiciary.

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Kindler, Gentler Chris Christie Wins First Debate by Not ‘Losing It’

Kindler, Gentler Chris Christie Wins First Debate by Not ‘Losing It’ (via NJSpotlight)

With polls consistently showing him leading Democrat Barbara Buono by anywhere from 19 to 35 points, the only thing Gov. Chris Christie had to do to “win” his debate against Buono last night was not to “lose it” – his temper, that is. To the…

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The First Buono-Christie Debate

In case you missed it.

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FDU Poll: Most voters aren’t paying attention

Booker, Christie maintaining strong leads.  Most New Jersey voters favor Gay marriage

Fairleigh Dickinson University released a Public Mind poll this morning that indicates that 62% of New Jersey registered voters agree that gay marriage should be legal, that 45% favor Cory Booker for U.S. Senate over 29% who favor Steve Lonegan and that Governor Chris Christie is leading State Senator Barbara Buono in the gubernatorial race by 33 points, 58%-25%.

Only 33% of the respondents could name both candidates for U.S. Senate.  23% could name Booker. 3% could name Lonegan.  40% did not known who the candidates are or refused to answer the question.

15% said they are following the Senate race closely. 32% somewhat closely. 27% said they are following the Senate race just a little and 24% said not at all.

At least 26% lied.

76% could not say where Booker stands on the National Security Agency’s practice of monitoring domestic phone calls and emails.  75% could not say where Lonegan stands on the issue. 55% could not say where Booker stands on stricter gun control. 73% could not say where Lonegan stands on gun control.

Similarly, majorities could not say where Christie or Buono stand on gun control or the minimum wage.  61% do not know where Buono stands on gay marriage. 57% know that Christie is opposed to gay marriage.

FDU did not poll New Jersey’s attitude about Miley Cyrus or twerking.

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Storms and Fires Aren’t the Only Disasters Our Governor Has Led Us Through

By Assembly Declan O’Scanlon

While storms and fires can’t be ignored or missed as we go through the motions of our daily lives, one of the biggest threats to the well-being of our state was silently ignored – or even enhanced – by the folks supposedly in charge for the 8 years preceding Governor Christie’s election.  When Governor Christie took office our state was on the precipice of insolvency.  Governor Corzine and the folks leading the legislature – Barbara Buono amongst them – continued, either blindly or incompetently, to steer us toward utter disaster.  Some of you public workers still upset over the pension and benefits reforms that helped to dramatically turn our outlook around?  Get real.  The only alternative would have been huge, economy-strangling tax increases, or insolvency.  You don’t want to imagine the negative impact on your pensions – or our state’s economy – had that outcome become reality.

Yet that is exactly the outcome Governor Corzine and the Democrat legislative leadership were opting for.  Barbara Buono herself voted against the unquestionably necessary Christie administration reforms that have helped save our state.  She was also the Senate Budget Chairperson that authored resoundingly irresponsible budget after budget during the Corzine era – digging the hole deeper every step of the way.

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Christie says he inherited ‘the most business-unfriendly’ government in America

Christie says he inherited ‘the most business-unfriendly’ government in America (via NJ.com)

NEW BRUNSWICK — Gov. Chris Christie told business leaders this evening that he inherited a bloated state government that was “the most business-unfriendly in America,” but he said he’s made great progress in turning it around. “We should not…

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Monmouth Poll: Christie will be re-elected The only question is by how much

“Christie’s level of firm support means the eventual winner is not in question. The only unknown is the final margin of victory,” ~ Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Governor Christie meeting with business owners at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch, April 18, 2013. Photo by Art Gallagher

New Jersey’s gubernatorial election is more than a month away and Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray has called the race for Governor Chris Christie.

In a survey conducted last week and released this morning, Christie leads challenger State Senator Barbara Buono 56%-37%, a nearly identical margin to the August Monmouth poll of 56%-36%.

80% of likely voters say they won’t change their mind on who to vote for on November 5.  60% of Independents, 89% of Republicans and 25% of Democrats say they will vote to give the Republican governor another four years.  There is no gender gap. 56% of men and 55% of women say they will vote for Christie.

Buono’s name recognition has improved significantly since the August poll, but as voters get to know her, they are not impressed. 67% have an opinion of Buono, up from 52% in August, but more than half of those opinions are negative. 38% still don’t know enough about Buono to form an opinion.

Posted: October 2nd, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, 2013 Gubernatorial Politics, Barbara Buono, Chris Christie, Monmouth University Poll, Patrick Murray | Tags: Barbara Buono, Chris Christie, Monmouth Poll, Patrick Murray | Comments Off on Monmouth Poll: Christie will be re-elected The only question is by how much

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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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