Patricia Campos-Medina is not going to win the Democratic primary for Senate. That’s the reality.
But she has unwittingly produced one of the defining images of the ongoing campaign.
Thousands across New Jersey – and probably the nation – saw a short video of Campos-Medina trying to enter last week’s Camden County Democratic convention.
She is, after all, a candidate.
No matter. A team of guys resembling barroom bouncers – one dude in shades – blocked her entrance.
So there. So much for democracy.
One cannot come up with a more awful image for New Jersey’s Democratic power brokers, most of whom backed First Lady Tammy Murphy as soon as she entered the race last November.
Camden, however, is only one part of this puzzle.
In Middlesex County, the convention was closed to the press and from what we’ve been told, only the vote of the county chair really counted.
With the exception of a secret vote in Bergen County, Murphy has won county endorsements when they were decided by a public vote, a county chair, or a small number of people – a steering committee.
Andy Kim has triumphed at conventions decided by secret ballot.
Add to this, Kim’s ongoing federal suit challenging the power of county leaders to draw up primary ballots and the battle lines are clearly drawn.
Sure, it’s Kim against Murphy, but it’s also the party bosses against rank and file Democrats.
Everyone involved here are Democrats, so what’s the big deal?
The big deal is that there are two different goals here.
County leaders live on the power to dole out jobs and to influence political hires. So, they want to please the governor, which is why endorsing his wife for the Senate seemed – at least at the time – as a no-brainer.
But what the power brokers clearly ignored was the strong Kim sentiment among average Dems.
Why?
Well, many committee members see Kim as a far superior candidate than Murphy when it comes to experience and the ability to understand and articulate issues. Those things may not matter to county leaders in such places as Camden, Union and Middlesex counties, but they do to many registered Dems.
That explains Kim’s success. Polls can be unreliable so far from election day, but besides his many convention wins, Kim has been polling better than the First Lady.
One man who realizes all this is Steve Fulop, the Jersey City mayor and 2025 gubernatorial candidate.
Fulop quickly endorsed Murphy, but now has buyer’s remorse. He changed gears a few days ago, retracting that endorsement and pledging to work for Kim.
Which brings up another question. How about some of the Democratic House members and others who reflexively endorsed Murphy? Will they get around to following Fulop’s lead?
That remains to be seen, but you wonder how many people looked at Campos-Medina’s video and questioned if the Camden County Democratic Committee is the team they want to be on.
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Campos-Medina, a prominent figure in New Jersey politics, recently suffered a major setback at the state’s conventions when his preferred candidates failed to secure the necessary support. This loss has not only dealt a blow to Campos-Medina’s influence within the party, but has also sparked a confrontation with Camden henchmen who are rumored to have played a role in his defeat.
The conventions, which took place last week, were seen as a crucial opportunity for Campos-Medina to solidify his power within the party and push forward his agenda. However, his candidates were unable to garner enough support from delegates, leading to a surprising defeat that has left many questioning Campos-Medina’s political prowess.
In the aftermath of the conventions, tensions have escalated between Campos-Medina and the Camden henchmen who are believed to have orchestrated his defeat. Reports have emerged of heated confrontations between the two factions, with Campos-Medina accusing the Camden henchmen of using underhanded tactics to undermine his influence.
The fallout from Campos-Medina’s losses at the conventions has sent shockwaves through the New Jersey political landscape, with many wondering what this means for his future within the party. Some speculate that Campos-Medina may be forced to reassess his strategy and alliances in order to regain his footing and rebuild his influence.
As Campos-Medina navigates this challenging period, it remains to be seen how he will respond to this setback and whether he will be able to overcome the obstacles that now stand in his way. One thing is certain – the recent conventions losses and confrontation with Camden henchmen have reshaped the political landscape in New Jersey and raised questions about Campos-Medina’s future in the state’s political arena.
