Giuliani campaign scores big victory in N.J. procedural vote
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterNew Jersey Republicans just made Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign a little easier.
Typically, New Jersey delegates are assigned to the winner in each of New Jersey’s 13 congressional districts. But under the “winner-take-all” rule that the Republican State Committee adopted tonight, the candidate with the largest statewide vote will get all of New Jersey’s delegates come the 2008 Republican Convention.
For Giuliani, who’s sometimes referred to as a “pseudo son” of New Jersey, this means he won’t have to spend time and money campaigning in the few local congressional districts that he doesn’t already have locked down. Instead, his campaign can funnel the money he would have used here into more contentious states.
There’s no question that the new rule helps Giuliani. But what it means for New Jersey voters and the state Republican party is not as certain.
Backers of the new rule argue that tying the local party to Giuliani can only help, as his visits to the state will focus more on fundraising for local candidates instead of for himself. And the beleaguered local party may be able to ride his coattails to some local victories in the 2008 general election.
“New Jersey will benefit greatly from winner-take-all, because Mayor Giuliani will be victorious,” said Giuliani campaign manager Michael DuHaime, who attended tonight’s Republican State Committee meeting. “Mayor Giuliani will carry New Jersey in such a way that the benefits will ripple right down for our party.”
Critics of the winner-take-all rule, some of them supporters of other primary candidates, echoed State Senator Joe Kyrillos’s recent Asbury Park Press editorial – that the point of New Jersey moving its primary ahead to February 5th was to make the state more competitive and influential in the selection of the next President. Locking up the state for Giuliani may get local Republicans in his good graces, but would fail to attract other candidates.
“The only chance we have of making New Jersey a battleground, the barrel open at both ends, if you will….. is to give the other candidates an opportunity to win something,” said David Norcross, who represents New Jersey in the Republican National Committee and is Mitt Romney’s New Jersey State Co-Chair. “If there is an opportunity to pick off a congressional district or two or three or four, it may be worthwhile to come here.”
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Rudy in NJ
Rudy wins in a walk now. Even in counties where he didn't have the line, he would have come in 2nd. Statewide, he's gonna win easy.
NJ is again a backwater state
I agree with Dave Norcross that the only way to create visibility for our state in national GOP politics is to have an open, competitive primary.
So what if Guiliani wins NJ? The conservative Republican voters in the south and west where the real delegate votes are, will not support Rudy. When his pro-abortion, pro-gay, anti-gun record becomes widely known even his support in NJ will soften.
We again cut off our own nose to spite our face.
First Tom Wilson, then this delegate rule....the Republicans will not be a factor in state or national politics until this regime is thrown out.
GO FRED THOMPSON!!!!!
Wil This Make N.J. More or Less Competitive for Republicans?
Though I'm from the other side of the political aisle, I find this development rather interesting. I would imagine that conventional wisdom is that Giuliani, who has the support of the state GOP establishment, will now lock up these delegates, and win them all. On the other hand, I would also imagine that this delegate move makes N.J. even more important in the Republican political landscape, perhaps even moreso than the earlier primary schedule.
Hence, if I were a Romney, Thompson (F or T), or McCain, I wouldn't necessarily wave the white flage for N.J. now and only count on a few delegates, if any, from the state under the previous system. I would actually campaign here and make a decent effort to get some traction for the 5 February contest. Finally, there is always the possibility that N.J. voters, whether Dem or Republican, will follow the lead of the Iowa and N.H. voters, and this contest could, hypothetically, then be competitive.
I'm with Fred
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It's Still Early
There's no telling what will happen between now and February. We all remember how Democrats in New Jersey aligned behind Howard Dean before he blew a head gasket in Iowa so let's not jump to conclusions.
I will admit however that as a staunch supporter of Rudy who was hoping that he would run in '08 the day after Bush was re-elected that the overwhelming early support for him is very encouraging. Having said that, it just the beginning what will be a long and tumultuous campaign.
I like Fred Thompson and I think he would make a great nominee as well. However, Rudy is the man. If Thompson does win though, I will be more than happy to support him.
"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton
Rudy no shoo-in
It amazes me that Rudy has so much NJ support when he was a downright lousy neighbor when he was NYC mayor: Always complaining when the Port Authority offered anything not solely for NYC's benefit, trying to tax commuters more heavily, never thanking NJ's emergency personnel for their heroic efforts on 9/1, nor acknowledging NJ's huge loss that day. Everything was always solely about NYC for eight years, and the heck with the rest of the region.
Rudy is the favorite in the primary, especially if it still has several major candidates. But if it is down to a two-man race by then (Rudy vs. Fred), I think Fred has a shot. I hope so, because in a general election, I think Rudy will look worse and worse the more he is in the limelight.
Its "Law and order" hands down
When a liberal Rosie O' D type comes up to you and tells you that she will vote for Fred. Then you know that you are on to something. You cannot demonize any episode of Law and Order, maybe Curtis Sliwa can
I'm with Fred
I'll give it another shot since in my prior post the link somehow was screwed up.
http://www.imwithfred.com
Sign up for the campaign.
Join Rudy
http://www.joinrudy2008.com
"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton
RHINO Giuliani
Just ask Bob Franks what the real NJ Republicans can do in a primary in NJ.
"RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN"
"RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN"
"RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN"
"RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN"
"RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN" - "RUN FRED RUN"
I have been with him since his Senate days:
YOU KNOW WHERE HE STANDS!
Join Rudy
Hey is there a connection with the picture of a dead guy known for being a drunk and your RINO candidate?
Yea! - I'll vote for your guy - watch me..........
MadMax
First of all , if you don't know where Rudy stands on the issues then quite frankly, I feel sorry for you because you haven't been paying attention.
Second, there's no H in Republicans In Name Only.
Third, Dino played a drunk on stage but that wasn't all he was know for. He is also known for being one of the greatest singers and actors of all time. If you had bothered to research him on IMDb, you would've known that.
Finally, there is also no H in Fornicate Under Command of the King. If you ever get around to figuring that one out, perhaps you should go do it to yourself.
"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton
As long as it shuts McCainnedy out
Then I am happy! Impeach Bush? Only if the reason is that he violated his oath by refusing to close the border with Mexico and stop the invasion occurring there. If that were the reason I would say yes!
Hey Fool
I did not ask for your version of a history lesson and besides do you believe everything your told by the newspapers or do you just ignore the facts?
The picture still represents a guy who is DEAD and portrayed a DRUNK as if it was something great. Dummy!
RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO
Now how’s that for spelling?
It still comes out the same Rudy is and will always be a RINO see I remember when he was first became Mayor and at war with his own party but of course you will come up with some kind of goofy wording to ignore the facts and history.
RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO RINO
And that’s all I have to say about that……….
I'm with Fred
Giuliani 41
Giuliani has temperment issues and is far to interested in playing the fear card. I think 9/11 really sent him off the deep end. He'll be anxious to get some more warring started while he and his girlfriend hang out in the whitehouse, my stomach is churning.