Amy Mallet

Just days after losing one of the hardest fought legislative campaigns of 2007, outgoing Republican state Sen. James “Sonny” McCullough found himself on a flight to Myrtle Beach, S.C. with Democratic Assemblyman Jim Whelan, who had just ousted him from his state Senate seat by a 14 point margin.

Democrats had spent over $3 million to beat McCullough in one of the nastiest races in the state – succeeding in taking him out but not his Assembly running mates Vince Polistina and John Amodeo. But the two former opponents had, even by then, set aside their differences and were on friendly terms.

District 13 Sen. Joseph Kyrillos huddles with Assemblyman Sam Thompson.Stumping throughout central Jersey on Sunday, Gov. Jon Corzine dismissed the recently formed Common Sense America as a closeted anti-gay group masquerading as a champion of fiscal conservatism.

In defiance of Fair and Clean Elections in the 14th district, the Princeton-based outfit has spent an estimated $450,000-worth of ads against Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and by extension, her running mate, labor leader Wayne DeAngelo.

"It’s not going to end up having a major impact," said Corzine, with Greenstein, DeAngelo and state Senate candidate Seema Singh, at his side in Hamilton’s Golden Dawn Diner.

The Trenton Times today endorsed Republican Jennifer Beck for State Senate in the hotly contested 12th district race, saying she was "the more persistent voice in fighting for change."  Beck has also been endorsed by the Asbury Park Press and the Star-Ledger in her bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Ellen Karcher.

"Could Ms. Karcher have been more forceful in prying more reforms out of the Democratic-controlled Legislature? It's hard to say, but clearly this last session was full of half-measures and some outright failures," the editorial said.  READ

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck released the following statement today:

The Asbury Park Press has endorsed Republicans Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande for State Assembly in the 12th district, passing over Democratic incumbent Michael Panter.  READ

O’SCANLON & CASAGRANDE TO OPPONENTS: YOUR SILENCE ON KARCHER’S FARMLAND ASSESSMENT IS DEAFENING

Days after campaign finance reports showed Mike Panter and Amy Mallet, taking almost $600,000  from PAC’s controlled by Assembly Speaker Joe Robets and Trenton Democrat leadership, 12th District Republican Assembly candidates Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande today accused Mallet of failing to file a quarterly report on a four year old election account which contains a $117,000 debt to a political advertising firm tied to Roberts and South Jersey political boss George Norcross.

KARCHER, PANTER AND MALLET SHOULD RETURN LYNCH AND ABATE CONTRIBUTIONS NOW

12th District Republican Legislative candidates Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande again today called on their opponents to join their call for the Legislature to convene in a special session to address pending ethics legislation, in light of last weeks arrest of two sitting Assemblymen and the news that State Senator Joseph Coniglio, who is under criminal federal investigation, had dropped  his bid for re-election.

Only about 30 senior citizens showed up to meet the Democratic Assembly candidates at the Applewood Estates, an assisted living complex in Freehold. But 30 votes may be enough to decide who wins the election in district 12.

The district, which is dominated by Monmouth County, is one of the most competitive in the state this year, as it was in 2005, when Democrat Mike Panter barely edged out his Republican opponent, Declan O’Scanlon, by 65 votes. While Republican Assembly candidate Jennifer Beck got about 1,000 more votes than anyone else, the three other major party candidates were separated by fewer than 250 votes.