It is not quite true that the Alito nomination was not an issue in New jersey. I got a pro-Kean computer telephone call on this point. However, I think that the pitch was wrong. It said "You as an Italian-American should be especially interested..."
I am intereseted, but I am not an Italian-American. I don't even have an Italian last name. I have a Pennsylvania-German surname, but am of nicely mixed ethnic background. I still strongly favored Alito's nomination, but why pitch it to me as an ethnic issue?
"We must emphasize that Democrats won control with CONSERVATIVE candidates. This country didn't sweep Liberals into office last night; each and every race was LOCAL. Rahm and Chuckie (I have to admit) were brilliant. They know in their heart of hearts that Americans are primarily conservative; but they know that under Speaker Pelosi, the newbies will wilt and comply. Look for investigations of Bush and Cheney. Look for a lower stock market. Eventually, though, the people who voted in these nitwits will finally see that Democrats are downright DANGEROUS."
You might say that the liberals were swept in with a moderate-conservative broom. It means that in this case a new broom sweeps dirty.