Pundits on Guadagno

Chris Christie’s selection of Kim Guadagno for lieutenant governor does not appear to be a geographical choice, according to Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray.

“This is one of those do-no-harm choices,” said Murray.  

The traditionally Republican Monmouth County has become increasingly competitive in recent elections, but Christie was widely assumed to have it easily in his column come November – especially in light the fact that Republican presidential candidate John McCain carried it over Barack Obama last year.

“She doesn’t come to the table bringing votes with her. It might pump up his margin in Monmouth County a little, but that’s not what he needs to make sure he wins this election,” said Murray.  

Since this is the first time the state will have a lieutenant governor, observers can only look to other states and presidential elections to try to determine what type of electoral effect the selection will have.  The consensus seems to be that it can’t attract many voters, but an embarrassing pick could cost a significant amount of votes.  

Nor was the pick of Guadagno meant to plug any credential holes on the ticket, since both come from prosecutorial backgrounds.  

“This has to be a pick of compatibility. It’s not that he’s reinforcing his law and order credentials -- it’s someone he can talk to and speaks the same language he does,” he said.  
“This is like Bill Clinton’s Al Gore pick.  Christie chose someone who talks like him and thinks like him to reinforce the claim that his campaign is about change rather than political calculations.”  

Ingrid Reed, the director of the Eagleton Institute’s New Jersey Project, said that the pick is especially significant in that it’s the first high profile executive decision that Christie has made.

Republicans are already comparing Christie’s selection process as evidence that he knows how to make “tough decisions,” while Gov. Corzine, they say, is focused on appeasing various constituencies and interest groups.

“You also want people to respond to this person as ‘Oh, interesting choice.’  She was law professor, was in local government, has worked at the state level.  So she brings perspective that could be useful in state government,” said Reed.