Don't forget the airport...
I think you're right about how New Jerseyans feel about race, but not taxes. The state wouldn't be tied for #1 in taxes (with Connecticut) if voters weren't liberal about taxes. The property taxes in a safe suburban town in an area far from the problems of Newark, Camden or Trenton are still completely outrageous.
I believe that the whole dark blue northeast is eventually doomed. Rome wasn't burned in a day, and I don't expect to see the final collapse in my lifetime, but eventually all the makers will have left, leaving only the takers.
Chris Christie was elected twice as a tax-cutter; he’ll win for as long as he runs if it prevents the massive increases we’ve had in the past. He is here to stop the exodus of makers if he can; he knows he has to give them cause to stay.
In general, the whole northeast is slowly being taken over by takers and illegals...