Michael Steele

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie and Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan campaign at the Filipino Heritage Festival in Bergenfield.

BERGENFIELD - Beset by bad poll numbers, Democrats couldn't wait to see which national Republicans would be forced in a big money atmosphere to come here to compete on behalf of GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie and thereby, in their view, set up a chance to brand Christie as the product of a party whose strength is mostly somewhere in the country's right-wing hinterlands.

Part of the answer came last week when National GOP Chairman Michael Steele confirmed he would campaign in South Jersey with Christie this coming Monday, an announcement that at least to this point produced little significant backlash - followed by the news Friday that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) would headline a private fundraising event on July 24th in Morris County for New Jersey Republicans.

The Christie campaign has repeatedly denounced Gov. Jon Corzine for "nationalizing" the governor's race by tethering himself to President Barack Obama and ducking what the GOP sees as the wreckage of the governor's own statewide tenure. 

GOP State Assembly candidates Robert Villare and Lee Lucas have never met or spoken, according to Brandon Glurk, Villare’s campaign coordinator.

“They are not currently, nor were they ever running together,” Glurk told PolitickerNJ.com.  “Unfortunately, the state GOP was too incompetent to elect one of their own.  Therefore, Lucas is on the Republican ticket with Chris Christie and Bob Villare, but that is not by choice.”

Gloucester County GOP Chairman Bill Fey and Assembly Majority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) have called on Lucas to drop out of the race following reports of racially insensitive remarks.  DeCroce has said he will not fund the Republican challengers in District 3, even though some GOP strategists had viewed the two Assembly seats as winnable.

Lucas has not been invited to a rally in Gloucester County on Monday featuring Christie and Republican National Chairman Michael Steele.

Republican State Assembly candidate Lee Lucas told neighbors "if you want to act like niggers, go back to Paulsboro," according to a 2006 Greenwich Township police report detailing a neighbor dispute.

"Yeah, I said that," a police officer says Lucas told him.  "It's my freedom of speech. I can say what I want while I'm on my property."

Newly-elected Gloucester County GOP Chairman Bill Fey and Assembly Majority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) have called on Lucas to drop out of the race amidst other allegations of racially insensitive remarks.  Don't expect Lucas to leave the race anytime soon. 

Sources say that Lucas was not invited to attend an event in Gloucester County on Monday that will feature GOP gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie and Republican National Chairman Michael Steele.  Steele, who is African American, will likely be asked if he supports Lucas, the winner of the June 2 Republican primary.

Police were called when Lucas was shouting at three neighbors he accused of cutting down a tree at his Gibbstown home. 

CHRISTIE DISSES PALIN, STUMPS WITH OTHER TOP REPUBLICANS

TRENTON- Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan today blasted Right Wing Conservative gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for his hypocrisy in refusing the assistance of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, while continuing to accept the support of numerous high-profile, out-of-state right wing Republicans.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is coming to New Jersey on Monday to campaign with Chris Christie.  

Based on the information available so far, it looks like Steele will be in at least two places with the Republcian gubernatorial nominee.  The conservative blog Save Jersey has an invite to the campaign headquarters grand opening of District 1 Assembly candidates Michael Donohue and John McCann at 5pm in Ocean City, while the progressive blog Blue Jersey picked up a tweet from the Logan Township GOP advertising Steele’s appearance with Christie in Pitman at 1pm.

Christie Campaign Manager Bill Stepien confirmed that Steele will attend the headquarters opening.  

Don’t expect to see Sarah Palin promoting Chris Christie in New Jersey any time soon.

CNN asked the Christie camp if they’re planning to have the soon-to-be-former Alaska Governor campaign for Christie here in New Jersey.

The response from Campaign Manager Bill Stepien: "There are no plans for Governor Palin to visit New Jersey at this time.”

The question arose after Palin’s resignation announcement last week, when Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said that, removed from her gubernatorial duties, Palin "will be very helpful to the Party this year as we wage critical campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey." Democrats immediately seized on that statement, relishing the idea of equating Christie with a polarizing figure like Palin.  

-- "RNC bills should not be paid with Teachers Union Money"
LONEGAN CALLS ON STEELE TO RETURN NEA DONATION TO RNC

The Gloucester County GOP would like to congratulate the new RNC Chairman, Michael Steele. 

Saul Anuzis has two of New Jersey's three votes in his bid to become the Republican National Chairman. He is the Michigan GOP State Chairman.

Republican National Commiteewoman Virginia Haines plans to vote for Saul Anuzis, The Michigan State Republican Chairman, to lead the Republican National Committee.

“I just think he’s someone who has always been on top of the issues, he’s always kept the committee people abreast – I’m not saying that the present chairman didn’t, don't get me wrong,” said Haines. “

Haines joins New Jersey Republican Chairman Tom Wilson in supporting Anuzis for the post – giving two of New Jersey’s three votes to him. Republican National Committeeman David Norcross, however, said that it’s “very premature” to decide who he wants to lead the party.

N.J. GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson is backing Saul Anuzis, the Michigan GOP State Chairman, for Republican National Chairman.

Michigan Republican State Chairman Saul Anuzis announced the suport of five state GOP chairs this week, including New Jersey's Tom Wilson, in his bid for Republican National Chairman.  The incumbent, Mike Duncan, has not yet said if he will seek re-election to a second term.  Other candidates include: former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, White House OMB Director Jim Nussle, a former Iowa Congressman; Florida GOP State Chairman Jim Greer; and Chip Saltsman, who managed Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign

Joining Wilson in his support of Anuzis are the Republican State Chairmen from Connecticut, Nebraska, Nevada and the Virgin Islands.