Posted on 10/28/2001 11:23:43 PM PST by KQQL
A superstar losing?
TRENTON, N.J. -- As the candidates lined up at the College of New Jersey last Thursday night, the final formal debate in the campaign for governor seemed a mismatch. Republican Brett Schundler is a tall, handsome, charismatic reformer pouring out new ideas. Democrat Jim McGreevey is a pint-sized career politician who never varies the monotonous party mantra. In the actual debate, however, McGreevey was a narrow winner on points. Hardly an engaging personality, he robotically repeated Democratic wedge issues: assailing Schundler for being pro-life, pro-gun and pro-school choice. Schundler, called "unprogrammable" by associates, wandered a little. Disdaining advice from aides to stick to pounding for tax cuts and against tax increases, he went on the defensive responding to McGreevey's massive television ad attack on gun control.
The debate was a microcosm of the campaign, where polls show McGreevey ahead by some 10 points in his second try for governor. How can this uninspiring small town mayor (Woodbridge, N.J.) and ex-state legislator run ahead of the innovative three-term mayor of overwhelmingly Democratic Jersey City? While the conventional wisdom is that Schundler is too conservative for New Jersey, he could sue for non-support by Republicans in the state and in Washington.
Schundler, a rare Republican who attracts non-white voters, ought to be treated like a treasure by the GOP. Yet, Republican Acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco not only has refused to endorse him but also tries to undermine him. It took three months of tortuous negotiations to get former Gov. Christie Whitman, now federal Environmental Protection Administrator, to come back to New Jersey and publicly endorse Schundler (after suggesting in July that his views are not "compatible" with Jerseyans). Even more surprising is President Bush's passivity.
The unsatisfying explanation for the president's absence from this race and also the Virginia campaign for governor: staying above politics during national crisis. "You can bet that Bill Clinton would be here if he were president," state Republican co-chairman Dick Kamin, a Schundler man, told me. White House apathy raises unsubstantiated suspicions of influence by DiFrancesco, who was the state's first Republican to support George W. Bush for president and campaigned for him in New Hampshire.
Donnie DiFrancesco and Bret Schundler once were friends, but the Acting Governor never forgave Schundler for raising ethical questions that forced him out of the race for governor. "He should endorse Bret Schundler," State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, the DiFrancesco-selected state chairman, told me. "But too much is being made of it." Apart from not endorsing, however, DiFrancesco has urged prominent Republicans -- including Connecticut Gov. John Rowland -- not to help Schundler.
New Jersey politicians, who, like DiFrancesco mix business and politics to their own enrichment, see Schundler as a blue nose from another culture. A practical political consideration for Republican legislators is their support from the New Jersey Education Assn. They would not relish a Republican governor, supporting parental school choice and breaking the hold of the teachers union.
One week before the election, a few signs of hope for Schundler are visible. In Thursday's debate, McGreevey indicated vulnerability on the tax issue by saying for the first time: "I'm committed to not raising taxes" (with Schundler responding that "they have to raise more taxes" to support McGreevey's spending). Polls are close enough to raise Democratic fears of low voter turnout, particularly among African-Americans. If Schundler can carry his black and Asian voters in his Hudson County base, McGreevey could be in trouble.
There also are signs of Washington awakening. Republican National Chairman Jim Gilmore turned up for the Thursday debate, hinting another $1 million might be forthcoming for pro-Schundler television ads. Presidential political adviser Karl Rove might come up for Monday night's Schundler fund-raiser -- not George W. Bush, to be sure, but a sign that the president cares.
He ought to. The stakes are greater than generally imagined in Trenton and Washington. In dumping annoying outsider Schundler, Republican insiders here may lose control of the state Senate and perhaps even the Assembly. While White House sources talk about the president not campaigning for a "loser," he may discover that letting Brett Schundler go down the drain is the precursor of Republican disaster in 2002.
I don't remember telling you to leave him alone, but that I thought he'd rally to us in the end. At this point, it doesn't appear that he will, which leaves me very disappointed.
As for those who say that we're whining because we can't win without the President, I'd just have to say they have little understanding of what is going on. We're up against a liberal willing to spend millions of his own money and who has been campaigning for this position since he lost to John Warner in 1996, a year before Mark Earley became Attorney General.
I haven't followed NJ closely enough. But it's not over yet in Virginia. We could still win this thing, but the President could sure help.
You have got to be kidding me. We have seven polls in the past 3-4 weeks showing the VA race tied or within the margin of error, yet you take this one poll from the ComPost as Gospel.
I never ceased to be amazed around this place.
Not everyone. I expect the President to honor his promises, and I'll most certainly be disappointed if he hangs Earley and Schundler out to dry.
You are absolutely correct. The Schundler campaign has been unfocused, to say the least. Local Republican headquarters cannot get advertising supplies (lawn signs, bumper stickers, etc.), requests to help make phone calls or hand out fliers go unanswered, it's really a mess.
As another poster said, the fact that the spread is only 10 points is a glaring example of how weak a candidate McGreevey is.
Earley is a male Whitman clone. Still, those of us who are tired of the GOP putting up liberals like that will be blamed when he loses instead of the blame being heaped on the ones who deserve it; the GOP decision makers who choose the candidates.
You may not like Earley, but he's no Whitman clone.
Already have.
President Bush's sky-high approval ratings will drop. So do we want them to drop because he puts 1 or 2 good Pubbies in office? Or do we want them to drop because the Dems and media pound him endlessly that the voters rejected the "Bush agenda" in VA, NJ and NYC?
Coop's been on the front lines for months.
As for me, I was a Hager delegate to the convention and spent most of the summer distressed with the Earley campaign. I was particularly po'd that I got seven copies of the "most liberal ticket in history" flier. Around August -after that flier, the tone changed, and I've been more encouraged and more active in my support.
My county (which happens to be Earley's home county) will carry for Earley. It's a question of the margin.
That other poster was me, too! LOL!
Fair question. Then I think ultimately his base is satisfied with him, and the Dems/media just turn on him quicker.
I agree it's a hot topic, but the President has always struck me as a man of his word. (Haven't used that phrase in about EIGHT YEARS!!) I'd like to see him follow through on his offers to help, and I'll really think it will be enough in VA. NJ I'm not too sure about, but I'd love to see Schundler get every bit of assistance.
The Schundler campaign has been unfocused, to say the least. Local Republican headquarters cannot get advertising supplies (lawn signs, bumper stickers, etc.), requests to help make phone calls or hand out fliers go unanswered, it's really a mess.
Don't be so sure that the problems your local Republican headquarters is having isn't of their own design.
The state GOP are as afraid of a Schundler victory as the Democrats, and are actively working to undermine his campaign.
Political campaigns in NJ are usually like pro-wrestling matches. The two sides bluster and yell, smack each other around a little in a choreographed dance, then one guy wins and the two of them go in the back and have a drink while they divvy up the spoils. They won’t mind a McGreevey win in the least. He’s their teammate.
Contact the Schundler campaign directly if you want to help. I’ve had no trouble volunteering or obtaining lawn signs from them. And the Bergen County GOP headquarters is enthusiastically cooperating, you can volunteer there any night you want. They are also looking for volunteers to do lit-drops this Saturday (call them at 201 487-5551).
Or contact Kathryn English at krenglish7@earthlink.net to help.
So why is he giving Virginia the back of his hand? The Virginia GOP kept his Primary hopes alive and practically secured his nomination. If he'd lost in Virginia it would have been over and President McCain or Prince Albert would be waging this war. President Bush needs to give a little support to Mark Earley.
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