Christie is afraid to run with Cory Booker on the ballot.

[hrmjustin]

He chose October 16,2013 because he wanted low democratic turnout in November's general election for Governor. The reason for that is he wants the GOP to win the legislature which is possible.

The democrats need to take him to court and move the date to November. There is no reason to spend more money then they need to. If he is going to run as a fiscal conservative he is going to have a hard time explaining this.

Cory Booker is almost certain to be the next elected senator of the state and if he was on the ballot with the governors race at the same time he will draw a huge democratic turnout. In the end that is what Christie is trying to avoid and I don't think the courts will let him do it. The courts of NJ have not rules in the republicans favor much in the past decade.

Take him to court NJ democrats!

[Kahuna]

1. He has nothing to fear for himself. This might help his down ticket repubs though.

Christie is a lock for re-election.

[hrmjustin]

2. Yes but he wants to win with 65% of the vote or more and with Booker on the ballot that will not

happen. But yes the down ticket races is what he is concerned about.

[graham4anything]

3. I like this, it means Cory is Senator immediate, no?

So we don't have to wait til January, or, to Jan. 2015

actually, he is following the letter of the law, in regard to days

[hrmjustin]

4. We will get the seat yes but we want to keep the legislature as well so that is why

we want a nov date for the election. We want strong dem turnout to keep the legislature blue, and by moving it to Oct. Christie is signaling he is afraid to run with Booker on the ballot.

[graham4anything]

5. No, IMHO, that shouldn't play a part

that is taking advantage the other way

The quicker Cory is seated the better.
imho

And that would mean Cory is not seated til Jan.

I do think if the special is Oct., Cory is seated immediate.
(Unless they pull crap like they did in Minn after Franken won).

[hrmjustin]

6. The winner will be seated as soon as the race is certified.

[graham4anything]

7. What if there is important legislation those 3 weeks in the senate.

the repubs might just try to bring in something important, and the vote will be all
important.

I do hope Christie just names someone NOT running for the four months, and I do not want
to wait 3 weeks longer.

[hrmjustin]

8. He will name someone in the next few days he said.

[graham4anything]

9. I know what he said, hope its someone who won't run in special (like Mass.)

By having it now, instead of attempting to delay to 2014, that is the bone to democratic party.
So, expect a really bad choice to democrats when he names the person

[hrmjustin]

10. Who do you support for the nomination? Booker?

[graham4anything]

11. 100%. for Cory Booker.

and Booker will be a great Senator, and will help Hillary with 2016

In fact, Booker as Senator will immediate be a possibility to be VP with Hillary
in fact, it would fasttrack him to the front of the line

[hrmjustin]

12. We shall se my friend, but I think Booker will almost certainly be the next elected senator.

[graham4anything]

13. actually, hee hee, it could fast track him to being the next President if Hillary were not running

but he won't run against Hillary.

not to mention, except for REPUBLICAN Sen. Cowan (temp. Mass til Markey hopefully wins), there are zero other black democratic senators,
and that is well, just wrong. IMHO

[hrmjustin]

14. I agree it is very wrong!

[davidpdx]

32. Unfortunately we are shit out of luck

This has happened five times in five year with Senators dying in office on our side. Remember Senator Kennedy died and Mr. Playboy Bunny got elected. We had to put up with his sorry ass for three years before we could finally get a progressive elected.

Christie will appoint a Republican that is a given.

No immigration bill
No student loan rate relief
No gun prevention laws
No filibuster reform (co-sponsored by Senator Merkley from my home state of Oregon)

I support each one of these and the hand-wringing has ended up killing all of these.

The rates on my new student loans will be 6.8% starting next month.

[Sirveri]

33. who cares, GOP controls the house, and we'll still have a majority in the Senate.

They could still easily fillibuster though. So it really doesn't matter when he gets in since he won't be able to get anything done with a do nothing house.

[karynnj]

18. It will likely mean that he will be become Senator soon after Oct 16

- assuming, the entirely likely, that he runs and wins.

Christie will pick an interim Senator who likely will be Senator for just 4 months. (The law was actually not very clear as - within the same bill - there were conflicting regulations. )

[BlueDemKev]

15. QUESTION

Let me make sure I understand what's going on...

Cory Booker is a black Democrat who is interested in running for Lautenberg's old Senate seat and would be a favorite to win if he runs. However, Christie is afraid of having the Senate race on the November 2013 ballot with the gubernatorial and legislative elections because Christie doesn't want the Democratic base coming out in force to vote which would help keep the legislature Democratic (and maybe even jeopardize his own re-election chances). So, Christie wants to have a separate election just for the Senate race in October and everything else in November? Is that correct?

If so, it's a complete waste of taxpayer money to hold two separate elections. It should all be on one ballot in November.

[hrmjustin]

16. You got it right and the Dems should and will take it to court.

[BlueDemKev]

17. Our goal should be...

Getting Booker elected to the Senate and keeping the state legislature under Democratic control.

A strong GET OUT THE VOTE effort will be needed, especially in the liberal strongholds such as Newark and Trenton.

[tabbycat31]

20. I see GOTV being a clusterfuck this year

It's hard enough to get people to vote once, but twice? I'm having nightmares already!


And add Camden and Atlantic City to your list.

[BlueDemKev]

21. Then we will lose everything.

Get out the vote is the key. When Democrats vote, we win. When they don't, we lose. It's that simple.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Exactly!

Here in NY we had a Special Election in 2009 when my congresswoman (Kirsten Gillibrand) was appointed senator by Governor Paterson to replace Hillary Clinton. I worked for her Democratic successor, made GOTV calls, went door-to-door, etc., and many voters were just really ticked off that we were bothering them yet again. And they loved Kirsten...

[Cha]

27. The thought just crossed my mind that if New Jersey should get a repub

Legislature.. then it seems NJ Dems would get a fast taste of what Christie is really like.

[KingFlorez]

19. Exactly

If there is a federal race on that ballot, that could very possibly allow for Buono upset in the gubernatorial or at least a close result. Christie is wasting taxpayer money for political purposes.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

22. The Wednesday factor might be the best legal argument for throwing it out.

Elections are always on Tuesdays. Or is he planning to concede to a Tuesday and therefore be perceived to compromise?

[hrmjustin]

23. I would not put it past him to say Ok we will do it on a tuesday.

The courts in NJ have not been kind to the gop for the last decade when it comes to election law. I think he was hoping no one will notice or care. I can tell you the local media is not letting it go.

[Justice]

24. meanwhile teachers getting laid off but Christie spending millions on special election - HUGE

mistake. SO POLITICAL!

[hrmjustin]

25. 200 teachers could be paid with the money used for this propsed october election.

[Historic NY]

26. I thought Jersey was broke? Thats going to be costly a special & general..........

[Cha]

28. Christie Doesn't Care.

Mr. Christie was defiant in announcing his plan here, scowling when reporters pressed him about the cost of the special election. “I don’t know what the cost is, and I quite frankly don’t care,” he said. “I don’t think you can put a price tag on what it’s worth to have an elected person in the United States Senate.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/nyregion/christie-sets-october-special-election-for-lautenberg-seat.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

That's some disiingenous bullshit.. right there. I hope it comes back to bite him in his scaredy cat ass.

[Cha]

29. Yes, he is. thanks for the OP, hrmjustin

[Rowdyboy]

30. Hopefully the Jersey courts and media will force the coward to have a single election in November...

If the law won't force him and the media doesn't shame him then he still wins.