Latest From SSW:

War imagery unending in the Fitzsimmons-Premo 12th district undercard

If it were a Lex Luthor-lookalike contest between the campaigns' respective leading men it would be difficult to pick a winner, but it is not that in the 12th district, though the chief handlers of two proud and competitive women here are not unaware of their own head-to-bald-head rivalry.

Tom Fitzsimmons, campaign manager for Republican Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, likens the Democrats to the out-of-sorts and ultimately out-of-their-element Hessians on the eve of the Battle of Trenton. Mike Premo, campaign manager for Democratic Senator Ellen Karcher, chooses another metaphor - but he sticks with the military imagery.

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Codey confident he'll retain Senate Presidency; Lance seems open to taking budget panel post

Voting at Seton Hall Preperatory School in West Orange, Senate President Dick Codey was the center of attention, drawing a small media contingent to watch him enter and leave the booth.  Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, on the other hand, didn’t get much attention. 

It was a contrast in celebrity.

“Tell Senator Codey I’m envious,” joked Lance.

But the two have one thing in common – there’s been speculation that they could lose their leadership positions in the Senate.

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Heading for Tinton Falls and Freehold in the campaigns' waning hours

In the hard-fought 12th district, Democratic Senator Ellen Karcher worked the Route 9 diner circuit this afternoon with Senate President Richard Codey. Her Republican challenger, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, went door-to-door in Tinton Falls with one of her running mates, Declan O'Scanlon, then fell back to headquarters to make phone calls.

The GOP team, which also includes Caroline Casagrande, was planning to work the train stations in Red Bank and Little Silver in the early evening hours before rendezvousing in Freehold to brace for election results later tonight, according to campaign spokesman Tom Fitzsimmons.

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In the 29th, the campaigns are in the streets

In the 29th district, independent state Senate candidates Assemblyman William Payne and At-Large Councilman Luis Quintana this afternoon were making the most of their ground games against the favorite, M. Teresa Ruiz, who enjoys the mammoth machinery of the North Ward Democratic Organization.

Ruiz and her team have the line up here in Newark in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, which they're hoping will prove a key difference-maker in putting down the Payne-Quintana insurrection.

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Quiet so far on the administrative front

Maria Del Valle-Koch, acting director of the state Division of Elections, said there have been no reports to her office of irregularities at the polls so far.

"Everything has been unusually quiet," said Del Valle-Koch at a little after 3:30 p.m. "Hopefully we won't be experiencing anything. There have been no substantial problems."

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Republicans say early numbers look good in Wall Township

In district 11, a last minute shot by the Democrats to make the Assembly contest competitive with a six-figure check translated in part into an attack ad targeting Republican David Rible of Wall Township.

Rible is running for the Assembly with Mary Pat Angelini of Ocean against Democrats John Napolitani of Interlaken and John Pirnat of Belmar.

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Gilmore confident despite allegations of pending tax hike

Slapped on Election Day with a front page headline notifying voters in Hamilton Township that there is a $5 million shortfall in the budget, Mayor Glen Gilmore said he is confident Hamiltonians will judge him on his full body of work as mayor.

"They came in at the last minute but we have laid the foundation to withstand that," said Gilmore in the Colonial Firehouse, addressing the Republican Township Council's successful efforts yesterday to release the town's financial assessment in the hours before Election Day.

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Labor pumped up on Election Day

Michael K. Maloney, president of the Mercer County Labor Union council, gave the troops their marching orders in the Colonial Firehouse in Hamilton on Election Day.

"Do not come back till after six o'clock," he told the 300 union workers representing 22 locals who packed the tables in the hall and prepared to hit the streets to canvass for labor candidates here.
 
A few minutes later Maloney introduced Charlie Wowkanech, president of the state AFL-CIO, who jumped up onto the makeshift stage next to Maloney and stood above the workers.

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The Back Room

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest - May 24, 2013

Christie cuts Jersey Shore reopening ribbon on “Today’ Show Gov. Chris Christie is walking the Jersey shore Friday morning along with members of the TODAY show. The governor is appearing on the morning news program ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. The TODAY show appearance is the first of...

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Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Contributors

How to Blow a Cool Million  (5/23/13) - $1 million doesn't buy what it used to in New jersey political advertising.  So what is the Buono campaign thinking?... more »
(5-22-2013) All Ethics Bills are Not Ethics Priorities -In New Jersey it remains OK for state legislators to make money from towns they represent, but it is... more »
NEWARK - The Boys and Girls clubs hosted the professionally staged announcement for Shavar Jeffries’ Mayoral candidacy announcement. Over 400 supporters packed the gym, some of whom had already... more »
Chris Christie's recent "Lap Band" weight-loss surgery scoop remains the talk of the nation.... more »

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

"Hudson must support Hudson." - state Senator/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco.

- PolitickerNJ.com

Poll

What did you think of Barbara Buono's television ad?
That's top quality work right there. Look for the polls to tighten.
44%
Nicely produced ad, but if it doesn't move her in the polls, it will have been for naught.
11%
Who?
44%

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