In Bergen, GOP Freeholder candidates running separate campaigns
By Matt Friedman | September 16th, 2009 - 5:07pmBergen County Republican freeholder candidates John Driscoll and Rob Hermansen will appear on the ballot together in November, but you won't find the two paired up in many other places.
The two candidates say that they consciously avoid making joint campaign appearances, focusing instead on spreading out to tackle each of Bergen County's seventy municipalities.
"Basically, we have split up to attack the county as much as we can," said Driscoll, a tobacco salesman from Paramus. "I think Rob hit it right when he said ‘if we're seen together, we're doing something wrong.'"
But privately, Bergen County Republicans admit that the split between Driscoll and Hermansen is more than geographical. Although they have both separate and joint campaign accounts, they have separate Web sites that look nothing alike. They have different knickknacks to give out at events, and their campaign literature sometimes mentions their running mates only fleetingly. They even have different campaign managers -- Deirdre Woodbyrne for Hermansen, and John Gil for Driscoll.
Although Democratic incumbent freeholders Julie O'Brien and Vernon Walton have separate Web sites, their campaigns are more tightly wound and officially managed by Bergen County Democratic Chairman Michael Kasparian. The party's executive director, Matt McHale, runs the day-to-day operations.
While the two Republicans express admiration for each other, they have divergent campaign strategies.
Driscoll has focused more on retail campaigning, and is more in tune with Bergen County Republican Chairman Robert Yudin, while Woodbyrne and Hermansen have chafed at what they see as campaigning as usual for Bergen Republicans. Instead, they want to focus on a larger new media strategy.
"After last year, the campaign strategy is completely different than it has been in the last decade. We need to focus more on the computer, more on Facebook and Twittering, and people getting on message," said Hermansen.
Hermansen, a Mahwah councilman, acknowledged that the two campaigns could use more coordination - especially this year, when outside political forces are shaping up to make this year the best chance Bergen Republicans have at winning at least one freeholder seat in six years.
"The goal here in Bergen County should not be to just get one of us elected, and I believe that if we are doing something that people that makes people think we are not running together, that could hurt us," he said.
Driscoll and Hermansen actually did see each other yesterday at the Bergen County Senior Picnic, though some insiders noted that the stickers and bags Driscoll was handing but had only his name on it.
The split also has roots in a spring court battle between Woodbyrne and Yudin in over whether Yudin should automatically be named the freeholder candidates' official campaign manager, while allowing someone else to run the campaign's nuts and bolts operation.
Woodbyrne, however, professes that she and Yudin have "a great working relationship."
"People want to say that there's division, but we have to be united to get the top of the ticket elected, the middle of the ticket elected and the local candidates elected. At the end of the day, all the local candidates have to be united to win in November," she said.
Yudin, for his part, said he completely supported both candidates and was not afraid that the appearance of intra-party disagreement would scuttle their chances.
"Any residual out there you would perceive as a negative, that's only among insiders," he said. 99.9% of the people who vote in the general election are apolitical. Their only political connection is they go out and vote on Election Day."
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Hermansen
I can't imagine a situation where a person meets Rob Hermansen on the campaign trail and says, "i like that guy, i think i will vote for him" It just wont happen.
He is the kind of guy you hope loses in all aspects of life
You are clueless. Rob is a great guy and very well
informed. That you went out of your way to attack him ...speaks volumes: He poses a threat to Obrien and Walton.
The Hermansen sage part deux
His failure to be a team player. Rejecting Yudin as a the County Campaign manager was his biggest mistake. County Committee has zero respect for this lying punk
KatheOh
The only threat that Hermy poses is to himself. How many times can you shoot yourself in the foot ?
this years Bergen Freeholder race
is a disgrace. Bring back last years team.
At least they worked together without the drama. They were a real team, They got more press last year in one month than this years duo got all year.
Well, I see the numbskulls have arrived
The campaign heads for the home stretch and someone writes a story about the 2 Republican Freeholder candidates. Already we have 4 morons trying to prove the story correct. Only in Bergen where you can steal losses from the jaws of victory. Get over yourselves and move on who cares what the press thinks. The end is near for either Democratic rule in this County or of the Republican Party. You make your choice but choose wisely as if you choose the wrong path there will be no going back. Only in Bergen, Only in Bergen
That's So Wise
garfield, that's a great idea! the only problem with that nugget of wisdom is that THEY LOST LAST YEAR. I don't care how well they worked together and if they held hands and sang kumba frickin ya, THEY LOST THE RACE! at least with a bit of tension, Rob and John have managed to at least put one of them on that pathetic democrat controlled board.
Hermansen and Driscoll - Good For Bergen
I know both candidates personally, and they are great folks to represent Bergen County on the Freeholder Board. Both have the interests of the people at the core of why they are running for Freeholder. Both have strong internal and external support behind them. I have heard democrats and republicans who like what they see and hear from Rob in particular. John is a tireless worker who will go the extra mile to get the job done. Regarding the separate campaigns, don't make more of it than is needed. Both camps are working hard to cover a lot of territory in a very large county. A united GOP in Bergen has the opportunity to pickup two Freeholder seats, and that will be good for all Bergen citizens.
all in the family
who really cares anymore ? when I got a fund
raising letter asking to donate money to only one candidate and not the other.? What the hell is that all about ?
Teamwork
every Freeholder campaign has always been a united ticket. This is the first year in History that the Freeholder ticket has seperate handouts and walk pieces. For a candidate that was so worried about the message. The only message to the voters is CONFUSION
another non story
started by the same people who phoned Charlie Stiles a few months back to bad mouth Yudin.
This election and the winners down ballot will all win only because of Chris Christie.
The same way that last years Freeholder candidates lost because of Obama.
John & Rob are United! Being in the same geographical location
at the same time does not prove anything.
Their Campaign Strategy is very smart indeed!
Assisi
Which letter is this? The one that John sent to all of us on County Committee back in April with just his name on it? Look all campaigns make mistakes who cares, it is what you do after making the mistakes that matter. Driscoll and Hermansen have been everywhere, complain all you want about their bags, their stickers, their handouts, their flyers, their campaign teams whatever. That said if they to continue to work as hard for the taxpayer as they have to get elected it will be the taxpayer that wins. It is time for Republicans to really ask themselves do they really want to win this Nov. If you do then who cares what is being said there is less than 50 days left to get it done. Get off you butts and do something. Assisi what have you been doing to make this happen? Ask yourself and your friends this same question? Do you think coming on this board slamming the mistakes that Driscoll and Hermansen have made helps them? If you really are a Republican you have to know there is no way it helps. Move away from the computer and do something useful instead of useless.
AllintheFamily
you are the joke of both Democrats and Republicans. Cant wait to see you get your butt kicked in Nov
RealBergenDem
The great thing that will happen when this election is over, will be watching people's faces when the Republicans win in Nov. I am not running in this race nor any other, running long passed me by. The only joke on this board is the fact that you want others on here to believe your a Dem. Go back to your town and fire up your 4 friends. You bore me.
özel ders
özel ders
Both has problems
There are several mistakes made in the campaign and there is nothing new in it. Both democrats and Republicans are making mistakes and such mistakes made the difference in the results- now and in the past.
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To realbergendem and all the other asshole naysayers
How do you pieces of crap want your Crow served up? Hot? Cold? Fried? Boiled?
Hermansen and Driscoll won last night. They are two hard working guys and they kicked the Dems asses. Even Better with 3 visits from the Lord Jesus Obama and two from his court Jester Biden Corzine couldn't get elected.....
VICTORY IS SWEET.....especially when the opponent shat out so much bull all through the election cycle.
I'm not surprised that Robert (and John won) They're the best freaking candidates that the Bergen County Republicans have seen in Years.