Dennis Shulman

A top political advisor to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg took a clear shot at Gov. Jon Corzine:  "Look at Mike Bloomberg and Jon Corzine. Very similar backgrounds, very similar people. Both came into office spending a lot of money, okay? And one of them has been very successful, and one has generally been very unsuccessful, both in competitive environments," Kevin Sheekey told New York magazine.  Why is that? I would argue it's because one turned out to be really good at his job, and is surrounded by really good people, and he's used persuasion to move things forward. If Mike Bloomberg were unsuccessful, he'd be a one-term mayor."

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is trying to talk current Mayor Michael Bloomberg into endorsing Chris Christie for governor of New Jersey, and Bloomberg may be listening.

The endorsement is far from a sure thing, but a source familiar with the talks said that the billionaire mayor, still sore over Governor Jon Corzine's opposition to his congestion pricing plan last year, might be willing to jump into the fray to support Christie.

Last April, fearing that the plan would impose higher fees on New Jersey commuters, Corzine called it "outrageous."

Giuliani political advisor Anthony Carbonetti acknowledged said that "there are definitely conversations taking place" between Bloomberg and Giuliani.

"Rudy is supportive of both Mike and Chris and would love to see them get together" he said.

Although not as politically active in New Jersey as Giuliani, Bloomberg has waded into politics here before.  Two months ago, Newark Mayor Cory Booker endorsed Bloomberg for reelection to a third term as mayor.  Last year Bloomberg endorsed 5th District congressional candidate Dennis Shulman, a Democrat, and in April he held a fundraiser for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who runs the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, along with his running mates.  Both support strict gun control measures - a pet cause for Bloomberg.

Democrats say that guns will be an issue that Bloomberg may have a hard time looking past.  State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), who is widely considered to be at or near the top of Corzine's shortlist for Lieutenant Governor, wondered aloud whether Christie's stances gun control and abortion would derail any potential endorsement.

"I would assume that Bloomberg would be really interested in knowing that the [Christie] doesn't even believe in the one handgun a month limit... Does anyone really need more than 12 guns in a year?' she said.   "Combine that with a woman's right to choose, and I would guess that Mayor Bloomberg doesn't have a lot in common with Chris Christie."

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Worth noting are the comments of Stuart Rothenberg, the editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report, a non-partisan political newsletter covering U.S. House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, Presidential politics and political developments, on the race for Congress in New Jersey's fifth district between Democrat Dennis Shulman and U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage):

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After blind rabbi/psychologist Dennis Shulman’s impressing fundraising, extensive press coverage and a Democratic wave, U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) still managed to easily hold on to his seat on Tuesday.

The margin was even one point wider than in 2006, when Democrat Paul Aronsohn didn’t have nearly as many resources at his disposal.

“I think it really honestly was his message, especially his fiscal conservatism.  The smaller government, less taxes message really resonates with 5th District voters,” said Garrett Campaign Manager Amanda Gasperino.  “We did a really good job getting his message out and communicating it effectively, which is why you saw an even larger win this cycle.”

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Some clever campaign tactics, a successful fundraising operation, newspaper endorsements, a political environment that was advantageous to Democrats, and a late campaign visit from Christopher Van Hollen wasn't enough to help blind Rabbi Dennis Shulman run any stronger against U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett than any of this the three previous Democratic candidates.  Garrett beat Shulman 56%-42%, a stronger showing than his 55%-44% win over Paul Stuart Aronsohn in 2006.  Anne Wolfe won 41% in 2005, and Anne Sumers won 38% in 2002.

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U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) was re-elected to a fourth term, defeating Democrat Dennis Shulman by a 57%-42% margin.

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With absentee ballots counted in eight of Bergen County's seventy municipalities, Barack Obama leads John McCain 54%-46% -- 1,118 to 956.  Four years ago, George W. Bush carried these same towns (Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Edgewater, South Hackensack, Woodridge and Wyckoff) by a 51%-49% margin over John Kerry.  

In the race for Congress in the 5th district, where absentee ballots in only Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, and Wyckoff have been counted, incumbent Scott Garrett leads Dennis Shulman by a 52%-48% margin -- 591 to 549.  In 2004, Garrett carried these four towns by a 55%-45% margin.

Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan leads challenger Diane Testa by a 63%-37% margin on absentee ballots in these eight towns, while Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg leads Republican Dick Zimmer by a 53%-47% margin on absentee ballots.  That puts Donovan, a Republican, 17 points ahead of McCain and 16 points ahead of Zimmer. 

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HOBOKEN – Between greeting commuters boarding a train headed to northern Bergen County, U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) said that Democratic challenger Dennis Shulman hasn’t given him any more of a scare than opponents in elections past.

“No. But I take every race very seriously, and we’re doing the same here,” he said. “I know that the DCCC has become involved in this race, and that of course has not occurred in the past.”

Still, Garrett acknowledged that the Democrats appeared poised for big victories in the House and Senate. But he doesn’t fear the wrath of a Democratic wave, despite his conservatism. Even if that happens, Garrett said, voters in the district may split the ticket: vote for Obama, and yet still vote for him – the most conservative member of the New Jersey delegation.

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It's election eve, which means that it's time to journey up the Ivory Tower to hear what political analysts think will happen tomorrow.

The four analysts PolitickerNJ.com talked to today were unanimous in predicting a big win for Barack Obama over John McCain both nationally and in New Jersey, and were nearly certain that incumbent U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) would easily beat down the challenge by former Rep. Dick Zimmer.   

They were also unanimous in picking state Sen. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) over Republican Medford Mayor Chris Myers in the 3rd Congressional District.

Three out of four predicated that U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) would beat challenger Dennis Shulman in the 5th District, but by a narrow margin.  

Three out of four also felt that Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) had the edge in her race against state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) in the 7th Congressional District, while one gave Lance a narrow victory. Read More >

Speaking on a conference call a few hours prior to joining congressional candidate Dennis Shulman to appeal to commuters at Hoboken Terminal, Senate President Dick Codey asked what New Jerseyans have to gain by sending U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) back for another term.

“If you look at it now, what do we gain by sending Garrett back? People in the Republican Party say he’s a marginal figure, and he’s a marginal figure in the minority,” he said.

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