WIRE TO THE WIRE: SENATOR KARCHER’S COUNTDOWN TO VICTORY SCHEDULE

Senator Karcher today released the second day agenda of her “Wire to the Wire” campaign schedule for the week leading up to Election Day.  From wearing a wire for the FBI to fighting corruption in her hometown to coming down to the wire in her re-election campaign, Ellen Karcher continues to fight for the people she represents.

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WIRE TO THE WIRE: SENATOR KARCHER’S COUNTDOWN TO VICTORY SCHEDULE

Senator Karcher today announced the kick-off of her “Wire to the Wire” campaign for the week leading up to Election Day.  From wearing a wire for the FBI to fight corruption in her hometown to coming down to the wire in her re-election campaign, Ellen Karcher continues to fight for the people she represents.

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Beck changes spending cut priorities in face of Karcher challenge

When State Sen. Ellen Karcher challenged Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck in a taped television debate with Michael Aron today to explain why she wants to cut $12,000,000 from New Jersey After 3, Beck denied that was one of her budget cuts.

But it was listed as such in a power point on Beck's website - at least until today.

"She was caught in a lie in an NJN debate," Karcher campaign spokesman Michael Premo said of Beck. "When she was called out on it, they altered their website."

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Weekend TV: Karcher/Beck debate

12th district State Senate candidates Ellen Karcher and Jennifer Beck will debate on NJN this weekend. Sunday at 9AM and 11AM. 

On NJN's Reporter's Roundtable, host Michael Aron and reporters Tom Moran (Star-Ledger), Jonathan Tamari (Gannett) and Trish Graber (Gloucester County Times) discuss Legislative races, ballot questions and Barack Obama's visit to New Jersey. Friday at 6:30 PM and Sunday at 10AM.

Battleground '07

The race for State Senator in District 2 is a Toss-Up, while Nicholas Asselta and Ellen Karcher could be headed for defeat, according to a new PoliticsNJ.com Battleground '07 analysis.  READ

BECK WAS IN FAVOR OF CUTTING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BEFORE SHE WAS AGAINST IT

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck seems to be on both sides on whether she supports her campaign platform to cut state spending or not.

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Did DeMicco lose his mojo?

Message and Media’s Steve DeMicco and Brad Lawrence have dominated New Jersey’s political consulting industry over the last ten years, scoring the strongest contenders with the biggest budgets. They’ve elected Governors, Senators, Congressmen, and a huge number of local officials – from James E. McGreevey to Jon Corzine (twice, almost $100 million worth) to Bob Menendez to Rush Holt to Ellen Karcher.

But is their magic gone?

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Beck is ahead, awaiting Karcher's well funded attack

Political reformers don't make many friends among their fellow elected officials in this state. The moment someone tries to stand above the fracas is when that person becomes a target of both parties - and the bosses behind both parties.

Sen. Ellen Karcher ousted Republican Co-Senate President John O. Bennett II, after beating George E. Norcross’ candidate in the Democratic primary, Oceanport Mayor Gordon Gemma.  Norcross tried to bring Karcher into his fold and she wouldn't budge. Instead she forged an alliance with Senate President Richard Codey.

This week, Karcher is in trouble in her re-election bid, with some polls showing her six to nine points behind Republican Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck. Despite the Karcher campaign's efforts to drag Beck's numbers down with New York market attack ads the campaign has run since October 15th, Beck's campaign isn't crumbling, or showing any signs of fissure.

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Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...
Mark Anton, the Chairman of the Suburban Propane Gas Corporation, was a half-term Republican from Essex County who was elected in a 1953 special election after Alfred Clapp, who had mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial election...
Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) has dropped his bid for Burlington County Democratic Chairman, notifying party leaders by letter this weekend.  That leaves Gary Haman as the leading candidate to replace Alice Furia, who took over last...
New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President Dennis Robinson may be the new Bryan Christiansen, the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSC) Executive Director.  Robinson is using public funds to pay a politically connected...
The 2012 New Jersey presidential primary is scheduled for two years from today, and so far there has been no serious talk of changing the 2007 law that moved the 2008 primary from June to February in an effort to make the state more relevant in the...

Contributors

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »