Posted on 03/19/2005 7:25:04 AM PST by BATNF
By PETE McALEER Statehouse Bureau, (609) 292-4935
CHERRY HILL - Five of the Republican candidates for governor courted votes Thursday night in the Democratic heart of southern New Jersey.
In the end, Doug Forrester captured the Camden County Republican Party endorsement - and the party line on primary ballots - by narrowly beating Bret Schundler and John Murphy in a three-hour convention that required two runoff votes.
After the win, Forrester called Camden County's Democratic regime a symbol of what has gone wrong in New Jersey politics.
"New Jersey deserves better," Forrester said. "It really does."
After hearing five-minute speeches from the candidates, a representative from each town in the county walked up tthe microphone and cast votes. Some towns had only one or two delegates. Most split their votes among several candidates.
When Gloucester Township cast all 21 of its votes for Forrester, there were groans from the back of the room.
"Why don't you count everybody's vote," one delegate said.
Later, two delegates, requesting anonymity, told The Press of Atlantic City they had been forced to vote as a bloc for Forrester because his campaign had promised the township $10,000. The money would only come, the delegates said, if all of the township's votes went to Forrester.
"I don't believe in selling out to the highest bidder," one delegate said. "I feel like my vote was taken away."
Forrester denied trying to influence Gloucester Township to vote as a bloc.
Forrester spokesman John Radjiewski said, "No checks were written."
Forrester beat out Schundler in the first tally by 17 votes, with Murphy trailing by 14 votes. Forrester won the final tally by 24 votes.
In his speech to the delegates, Forrester said he wanted to rid New Jersey of its "corruption tax."
"New Jersey is bankrupt. We have the worst reputation in the country for corruption and nobody knows it better than Camden County," Forrester said. "What I'm trying to say is, there is a relationship between being bankrupt and having the worst reputation for corruption."
Schundler pushed his plan for property-tax relief and told the Camden Republicans he could sympathize with them as the former mayor of Democrat-controlled Jersey City
Even if Mr. Forrester is sincere, changing New Jersey, especially Camden, will be like changing Mexico. Corruption and intimidation have become part of the culture. Good luck to him.
"Forrester picks up endorsement of Camden County Republicans"
Both of them?
I think about 1,000 voters went Republican. Not worth the price tag forrester paid.
Tust me.. Forrester is just like Corzine. (Has less money) So I guess that makes him Diet Corzine. Or Low Cal Corzine.
Forrester is a liberal elite Rhino.. We dont need those around here anymore.
I guess that explains all the Camden votes.
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