Ben Feldman

November 2, 2009 - 2:47pm

Bergen Dems exploit Republican divisions

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

At a campaign event last night, Bergen County Republican freeholder candidates John Driscoll and Rob Hermansen embraced in front of a crowd of supporters.

It was a hug meant to demonstrate the unity that appeared early on to be missing from their campaign. The two candidates – who are widely believed to be the Republicans with the best shot at winning a seat on the all-Democratic freeholder board since 2003 -- had separate campaign managers, Web sites and literature. The split was said to be indicative of internal Bergen County Republican rivalries.

But the hug was heartfelt, according to Hermansen.

“It was exactly how we feel about each other. We cannot wait to sit next to each other on that board,” he said.

Nevertheless, the campaign of Democratic incumbents Julie O’Brien and Vernon Walton have seized on the candidates’ well-publicized split, airing a New York media market radio ad in which goofball impersonators of Herman, a stock broker, and Driscoll, a tobacco sales rep, bicker and accuse each other of marketing cigarettes to children and cheating senior citizens.

“Hey Driscoll, how does it feel to push cigarettes on little kids? Got any cool new flavors?” says the Hermansen impersonator.

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