Steven Lonegan

One of Steve Lonegan's more outlandish claims in his campaign for Governor is that he would be the strongest GOP candidate against Jon Corzine.  One's first instinct is to suppress laughter at this ludicrous assertion, inasmuch as he has lost every race he ever entered outside his small hamlet of Bogota, for County Executive, State Senate, and Governor.  What's more, his tax plan, which would raise income taxes on 70 % of NJ taxpayers, which is not going over well in the Republican Primary, would seem to give the Democrats precisely the only issue with which they could possibly divert the public's attention away from their record.

The Mid-Atlantic Leadership Fund, a Washington-based organization with ties to Democrats, has purchased about $900,000 worth of New York and Philadelphia TV ads attacking GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie.  According to filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the political organization, which will not need to disclose their donors until July, is run by Sean Sinclair, a Democratic strategist who ran Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2004 re-election campaign.  The ad ties a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaint against Todd Christie, the candidate’s brother, to the award of a lucrative federal monitor contract to David Kelley, who as U.S. Attorney in New York declined to prosecute Todd Christie.

Reid served in the Senate with Gov. Jon Corzine.

Other names associated with the Mid-Atlantic Leadership Fund include: Amanda Flanary, a former Kentucky Democratic Party official; Mike Mikus, who worked for Mississippi Democrats in 2007, and Steve Bouchard, who ran Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in South Carolina.

There has been speculation for weeks that Democrats would seek to influence the Republican primary for Governor by spending some money to beat up on Christie, with the hope that he can boost Steve Lonegan's chances to win the GOP nomination.  A Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday shows Christie leading Corzine by seven points, although Corzine trails Lonegan by two points.

While it's not over till it's over, especially in New Jersey, former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has reclaimed the front runner mantra in his bid for the Republican nomination for Governor.  Two independent polls show him with huge leads against former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan and Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham).  Quinnipiac has Christie ahead by 23 points, while Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey shows the former federal prosecutor with an 18 point lead.

An April Quinnipiac poll showing Christie leading Lonegan by nine percentage points, followed by the release of some Lonegan internal polling showing the race tightening, there was a sense among political insiders that Christie could lose the Republican primary.  But the Christie campaign seems to have effectively courted conservatives, communicating Christie's pro-life position - validated by an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton), and they held on to their money until likely primary voters began watching the campaign more closely. 

Christopher Christie, who leads Steven Lonegan among Republican primary voters 56%-33%, leads among men 54%-39%, and among women 57%-25%, according to today's Quinnipiac University poll on the New Jersey GOP gubernatorial primary.

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Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie leads Steve Lonegan, the former Mayor of Bogota, by 23 points

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has opened a 23-point lead, 56%-33%, over Lonegan in his bid to be the Republican gubernatorial nominee, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.  Last month, Christie led Lonegan, the former Bogota Mayor, by nine points. A Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey has Christie also released this morning has Christie leading Lonegan by 18 points.  Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) is polling at 2% in both polls.

"Chris Christie has solidified his Republican support and is well over the 50 percent needed for victory, while Steve Lonegan has not picked up any significant strength in the past month," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.  "No one knows who will turn out in a New Jersey Republican primary so anything can happen, but all signs point to a Christie victory.  Most of Lonegan's strength comes from conservative GOP voters, with Christie scoring heavily among those who say they are moderate and liberal Republicans."

In a general election matchup, Christie leads Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by seven points, 45%-38% -- the same as it was in an April 22 poll.  Lonegan leads Corzine 42%-40%, a statistical dead heat.

ALSO: CHRISTIE LEADS LONEGAN BY 18 POINTS IN MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY/GANNETT NEW JERSEY POLL

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, above, trails former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie by 18 points in the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie holds an 18 point lead, 50%-32%, over former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released this morning.  Assemblyman Rick Merkt (R-Mendham) is polling at 2%, with 16% still undecided.

Christie leads Lonegan 59%-25% among voters over age 60.  He has a 63%-26% lead in Central Jersey, a 49%-33% lead in North Jersey, a 45%-33% lead in South Jersey, and a 44%-35% lead in Northwestern New Jersey.  Christie has a 21 point lead in Morris County, and Lonegan leads by 10 points in Bergen County.

Lonegan leads 51%-36% among Republicans who describe themselves as "staunch conservatives," while Christie is ahead 58%-18% among moderates.   Lonegan is just slightly more likely than Christie to be seen as a "pro-life" candidate (42% to 33%).

"Chris Christie has solidified his front-runner status in this primary by increasing his appeal to the party's core conservative base.  He may not win this group outright, but he has made enough inroads to leave Steve Lonegan with little room to maneuver before June 2," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.  "Winning in November trumps any specific issue positions for Republican primary voters.  For example, Mayor Lonegan's flat tax proposal has a good deal of support within the GOP electorate, but it doesn't seem to be enough to propel him to victory," said Murray.

Quinnipiac University will release a new poll tomorrow morning that includes a Republican primary and general election gubernatorial matchups and Gov. Jon Corzine's job approval rating. 

In an April 22 Quinnipiac poll, former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie led Steve Lonegan, the former Mayor of Bogota, by nine points, 46%-37%.  Corzine had an upside-down approval rating of 37%-54%, and trailed Christie in a general election matchup by seven points.

As expected, Gov. Jon Corzine will renominate Barry Albin as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.  Albin, a former partner at a politically influential Middlesex County law firm, was orginally appointed to the post by Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2002.  If he is confirmed by the Senate, he can remain on the top court until he reaches the age of seventy in 2022.

Republicans have already requested that Senate Judiciary Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) set aside at least three full days for hearings on the Albin confirmation. Some GOP Senators have hinted that they will oppose Albin, whom they have criticized for decisions on school funding formulas and other issues.  A letter Sent by Republican Senators last January says that "a more exacting review of the person's qualifications is necessary and justified."  The GOP asked for copies of all decisions authored by Albin and summaries of cases he was involved in.

The renomination of Albin and other Supreme Court Justices has already become an issue in the Republican gubernatorial primary.  Former Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan has said he would oppose the reappointment of any sitting Justice, while former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has promised a full examination of a judicial record after an initial seven-year term.

Republican Christopher Christie leads Gov. Jon Corzine by nine points, 47%-38%, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll released today.  Corzine and another Republican, Steve Lonegan, are in a statistical dead heat: Lonegan 42%, Corzine 41%.

"These numbers, while disappointing for an incumbent, are actually an improvement for Corzine," the poll analysis said.  "In March, as the Governor announced announcing his budget plan including $916 million in new and increased taxes, Corzine trailed Christie by fifteen points and was eight points behind Lonegan."  The analysis also noted that in a generic vote, 48% of state voters want a Democratic Governor, while 34% have a preference for a Republican.

Just 9% of voters strongly approve of Corzine's job performance, and 40% approve overall -- a seven point increase over the last two months.  But 33% view Corzine as very unfavorable.

Chris Christie leads Steven Lonegan by ten points, 39%-29% in the Republican gubernatorial primary, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll released today.  Undecideds are at 29%, and 3% say they will vote for another candidate.

Lonegan does better among men and conservatives, and Christie among women and moderates.  

Among likely GOP primary voters, Christie has a 75% favorable rating, while Lonegan is at 73%.  But 26% have a very favorable opinion of Lonegan, while 23% view Christie very favorably.