Those watching CNN Wednesday night saw, just about back-to-back, commercials for Ras Baraka and Sean Spiller.
No surprise. In case you need a reminder, the primary is June 10, two months from today.
With that in mind, we are seeing some themes emerge from the six Democratic candidates seeking to replace Phil Murphy.
Which brings us back to the commercials.
When Chris Christie (more about him in a bit) spoke recently at FDU, he said Baraka was clearly the most “liberal” candidate in the race.
Baraka wasn’t there, but if he was, he probably would have said “thank you.”
The Newark mayor is not running from his progressive base. Just today, he trumpeted an endorsement from a number of liberal groups, including the New Jersey Working Families Party and New Jersey Citizen Action.
In his TV ad, Baraka frames things this way – he is a “real” Democrat and not afraid to say so.
Spiller’s ad, makes one think Christie is still governor – even though he’s been out of office for almost eight years.
In it, Spiller, the president of the state teachers’ union, says he fought Christie’s educational policy and as governor, will continue to stand up for schools and students.
OK, we know that Christie and the NJEA were fierce adversaries back then, but, as noted, Christie left office in January, 2018.
This ad paints Spiller as an advocate for education, which on balance, is a good thing. You would think, however, that he would want to broaden his appeal a bit.
Two of the other candidates, of course, have consequential “day jobs.”
We are just at the two-month pole, but already I have heard comments that Mikie Sherrill should concentrate on staying in the House. Those saying that, logically, could say the same about Josh Gottheimer.
But being in Congress does provide some advantages – like telling voters you are trying to help them.
The Trump tariffs have been the news of the week.
So both Gottheimer and Sherrill sent out releases trumpeting their support to curtail the president’s unilateral power over tariffs.
Gottheimer was first, saying:
” The Trade Review Act would limit the President’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs without the approval of Congress and stop these reckless tariffs. These sweeping tariffs have hit Americans’ retirement savings and are already sending prices soaring, amounting to a $3,800-a-year tax increase.”
A day or so later, Sherrill said she has introduced legislation “that will end President Trump’s abuse of ’emergency” trade authorities, which he is using to impose sweeping tariffs that are crashing the economy and increasing costs by almost $4,000 for New Jersey families.”
Some may have seen the Dems’ debate a month or so ago. It was kind of a snoozefest with much agreement and little animosity.
This has basically been the case throughout the campaign, but Steve Sweeney, the only candidate from south Jersey, is trying to change that.
He went after Sherrill, probably the frontrunner, the other day, noting that she was fined for “violating the Congressional STOCK (Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge) Act, which bars lawmakers from making stock trades based on non-public information and intelligence afforded to lawmakers as federally elected officeholders, and it requires that they and their family members disclose their trades.”
In truth, this is an old story. It dates back to 2021 and involves stocks sold by her husband. Sherrill acknowledged at the time paying a fine.
The last candidate mentioned here may be the boldest.
Steve Fulop already has announced his lieutenant governor running-mate. Sheena Collum, the mayor of South Orange.
Fulop wants voters to see him as a “non-machine” candidate. A recent mailing that praises Andy Kim for ending the “county line” last year clearly implies that he (Fulop) is in that mold.
And he’s also in good shape
A Fulop TV ad shows the candidate running up a flight of stairs that ascend the cliffs of the Palisades in Weehawken.
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