February 6, 2008 - 1:30pm
Press Release

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Roberts: N.J. Voters Earn National Respect with Record Presidential Primary Turnout

ROBERTS: N.J. VOTERS EARN NATIONAL RESPECT
WITH RECORD PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY TURNOUT

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., today said the record-setting number of New Jerseyans who voted in yesterday's presidential primary elections engendered the respect of presidential candidates, the major political parties, and the national media.

Roberts (D-Camden) was prime sponsor of the law that moved New Jersey's primary to yesterday's national-news-making date. In previous presidential election years, the state's last-in-the-nation primary was held in June. More than 1.66 million voters - a state presidential primary record - voted yesterday.

Roberts released the following statement:

"Yesterday, New Jersey's voters put both parties and the nation on notice that the road to the presidential nomination runs through the Garden State."

 "For the first time in more than 20 years, the eyes of candidates, television pundits, and voters were focused on a New Jersey presidential primary that truly mattered.

"New Jersey's voters responded to their newfound national prominence by turning out in record numbers and shattering decades-old records for turnout.

"Candidates who previously only looked at New Jersey as an ATM for their campaigns must now look at our state's voters with newfound respect."

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DROSEMAN can be reached via email at droseman@njleg.org.