November 7, 2007 - 9:41am
News

Fitzsimmons is the new DuHaime

Tom Fitzsimmons becomes the first Republican campaign manager in ten years to oust an incumbent Democratic State Senator with Jennifer Beck’s defeat of Ellen Karcher. The last one was Michael DuHaime, who managed Anthony Bucco’s campaign against Gordon MacInnes in 1997. DuHaime is now the National Campaign Manager of Rudy Giuliani’s White House bid.

Ironically, Beck received a boost last week when Giuliani came to Monmouth County to speak at a Beck rally. And yes, it’s true: it’s been ten years since New Jersey Republicans ousted a sitting Democratic State Senator.

Another Rudy connection: the highly-regarded Steve Quain, who managed Bill Baroni's massive 63% win in the politically competitive14th district State Senate race, is headed to New Hampshire -- perhaps as early as tonight -- to work on the Giuliani campaign. This unites him with his former boss, Bill Stepien, the Giuliani National Field Director -- and the Campaign Manager of Baroni's 2003 upset of Democratic Assemblyman Gary Guear.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.