Jersey City gears up for Tuesday

JERSEY CITY – Although the pro-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.) crowd in the student center of New Jersey City University was juked with polls showing their candidate in possession of a double digit lead in Jersey, they supplied no demonstration of shock and awe support three days before Election Day.

Waiting for keynoters New York Gov. David Paterson and Gov. Jon Corzine, local politicians warmed up the proudly attentive audience.

“If you don’t stand for this man (Obama), you don’t stand for anything,” state Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) cried. “Get up. Get up!”

The crowd jolted to its feet.

Anticipating a line of attack Paterson would use in his remarks, Mayor Jerramiah Healy - up for re-election next year - slapped at the way the Bush administration doled out Homeland Security funds over the course of what he described as a dismal two terms.

“They knew this region didn’t vote for them, so they took that money and shipped it out to Utah and Wyoming to protect the rocks, goats and cattle,” Healy said. “It’s time to send a message. Eight years is far too much.”

Deputy Mayor Kibili Tayari emceed, packaging the rally as a penultimate celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s declaration that the” arc of history is long but it bends toward justice.”

Coming on the heels of Cunningham, Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise, Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City), and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), Menendez picked up on that theme.

“Power does not cede easily,” said Menendez. “The truth is going to set us free, and truth is on the side of Barack Obama.”

Corzine appeared at the tail end of the event, telling Paterson he was sorry he was late but, after all, it was Bill Clinton appearing in the 7th District.

New Jersey’s governor went right after the younger set.

“You know what’s happening in this election?” he cried. “Young people! You’re going to set this direction of this country. Some of us old guys are going to participate.”

Having just arrived from Assemblywoman Linda Stender’s (D-Fanwood) rally in Union, where she’s in a 7th Congressional District dogfight with state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), Corzine also made a direct appeal on Stender’s behalf.

“If anybody here knows anyone in the 7th District, in Union County, call them up, tell them to vote for Linda Stender,” the governor shouted. “We have to not only win the presidency.”