[BlackElk]

McGreevey is off to a VERY bad start in New Jersey, up to his donkey in fiscal problems. One of the money things that New Jersey politics is about is taxes. Former Governor Florio almost permanently wrecked the Democrats in races for governor by his tax policies. Every Democrat running for governor there, including Florio, promises solemnly not to be another Florio. Now McGreevey either raises taxes or cuts programs (drinking hemlock or jumping off the cliff). He will yammer about the GOP being at fault but he won't be believed. That's why Schundler should start right now on issues to appeal to urban minorities as he did in Jersey City.

[Thud]

My point was that the New Jersey GOP establishment refused to support its gubernatorial nominee, Schundler, because he was a threat to their power, patronage and money, not because of ideological differences. Intra-party fights in California tend to be about ideology first and personalities second, with local issues being third. Intra-party fights back east, and in New York & New Jersey in particular, tend to involve patronage first.