Senator James J. McCullough, (R-2), introduced legislation today which would supersede certain provisions of the Casino Control Act so that employees of casino can run for office in Atlantic City.

If Atlantic County Republicans picked seven-term Assemblyman Frank Blee for the State Senate last February, instead of Sonny McCullough, would Jim Whelan still have won?

A Zogby poll conducted for the Press of Atlantic City and Richard Stockton State College was right on the money in the second district State Senate race.  The poll had Democrat James Whelan leading GOP State Sen. Sonny McCullough by a 50%-37% margin, a thirteen point margin.  On Election Day, Whelan won 57%-43% - a margin of fourteen points.

But the Zogby poll in the 1st district Senate -- a statistical dead heat between Jeff Van Drew (45%) and Nicholas Asselta (42%) -- turned into a Van Drew romp: 56%-44%, a twelve-point win for Van Drew.

2007 was a Republican year in New Jersey, thanks to some significant local gains, a well played game of defense, the defeat of two ballot referendums, and the growing insignificance of Governor Jon “Hold Me Accountable” Corzine. It is arguably the first Republican year in New Jersey, albeit marginally, since 1997.

Republicans ousted State Senator Ellen Karcher in the 12th, has a net gain of two Assembly seats – defeating two-term Democrat Michael Panter in Monmouth County and winning back the 8th district seat they lost earlier this year when Francis Bodine switched parties to run for the Senate. The GOP won both Assembly seats in District 2, holding Frank Blee’s seat and picking up the one Jim Whelan vacated.

A Zogby poll conducted for the Press of Atlantic City and Richard Stockton State College shows Democrat James Whelan leading GOP State Sen. Sonny McCullough by a 50%-37% margin, and the race between Republican State Sen. Nicholas Asselta and Democrat Jeff Van Drew to be a statistical dead heat.

Van Drew, a three-term Assemblyman, leads Asselta by a 45%-42% margin. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5%.

(ALONG THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, November 2) – First District Senator Nick Asselta and his Assembly running mates Norris Clark and Mike Donohue today joined Senate Republican Leader Leonard Lance and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, and Second District Senator Sonny McCullough and his Assembly running mates John Amodeo and Vince Polistina at a press conference off the Garden State Parkway to declare their opposition to any consideration of the Democrats’ plan to sell New Jersey’s toll roads during a lame duck session of the legislature.

AMODEO: IF THE FACTS DON'T ADD UP, JUST MAKE IT UP

Second District Republicans Take a Page out of the Bush-Cheney Playbook

(EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ) – In a campaign dirty trick that would make George W. Bush proud, 2nd District Republican Assembly candidate John Amodeo is bankrolling a TV ad that distorts a newspaper editorial and smears Democratic Assembly candidate Joe Wilkins

Team Whelan launched two websites in as many days against two of their opponents, state Sen. Sonny McCullough and Assembly candidate Vince Polistina.

In a press release, district 2 Democrats' campaign spokesman Raiyan Syed said of Polistina, "Beware the '$6 Million-Dollar Man' masquerading as a taxpayers' advocate in the state Assembly contest. The candidate scrambling to hide his record is Republican Vince Polistina, who has spent the last several years truly advocating for one lone taxpayer: himself. Using the political system in ways he'd rather the voters not know about, Polistina has pocketed nearly $6 million from 13 government entities, even wrangling multiple no-bid, pay-to-play government contracts."

The Asbury Park Press has endorsed Jennifer Beck over Ellen Karcher, the Press of Atlantic City is backing Jefferson Van Drew and James Whelan over Nicholas Asselta and Sonny McCullough, respectively, The Record wants Joseph Ariyan instead of Gerald Cardinale, and the Courier Post and the Philadelphia Inquirer have endorsed Phil Haines over Francis Bodine.