Jeff Gardner

A group of conservative legislators and activists is holding a press conference today in Trenton to support a constitutional referendum that would effectively ban gay marriage.  

According to the state’s largest gay rights organization, their choice of a date is ironic.

“We’re not saying that all public figures should refrain from doing public events today.   We’re saying it is inconsistent of these public figures, who have claimed broad religious support for their anti-equality campaign, to choose Yom Kippur for their news conference,” said Garden State Equality Vice-Chair Jeff Gardner.  “Are they not aware today is Yom Kippur, and if not, what does that say about their diversity of support?  Or are they aware?”

Yom Kippur, during which Jews fast and pray to atone for their sins, is arguably the religion’s holiest day.  

Gardner pointed to the scheduled participation of Len Deo of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, which on its Web site says it presents “the ideals and principles needed to restore public opinion, attitudes, and behaviors to reflect a Judeo-Christian worldview.”

Obama Campaign State Director Mark Alexander

On the day of the Iowa caucuses, the New Jersey state director of Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has one immediate strategy, win or lose: on the next morning he’s going to stand up volunteers at different locales: the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, Newark Penn Station, Jersey City. They will be out there waving "Obama" signs, staying visible, shouting, working.

"We were always the candidate talking about change, that message hasn’t changed," says Mark Alexander, 41, seated in his West Orange office on Thursday, composed - given the stakes. Obama’s wife said if they didn’t win Iowa, the campaign would be finished.

"Fundamentally," says Alexander, "we are content that we are offering something the American people really want."