New Jersey has been lost for 30 years.
Bush pere won NJ handsomely John in 1988. But then the issues changed. The Dems discovered how to appeal to upscale suburbs, and the GOP to the gun rack folks. And the playing field changed.
I was just checking the historical electoral college. Do you know that in 1864 NJ actually voted for McClellan for president? I mean, even if you didn't like Lincoln, McClellan was a total, pompous loser. And NJ, Kentucky and Delaware were the only 3 states he carried. I guess they are still voting for losers in that state.
http://www.presidentelect.org/e1864.html