Chris Christie wins N.J. GOP gov. nomination

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico.com

Former United States attorney Chris Christie captured the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nomination Tuesday night, setting the stage for what will be a closely-watched general election battle with the state’s vulnerable Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

Christie appeared to surge past his chief rival, Steve Lonegan, a former northern New Jersey mayor by a double-digit margin as election returns continued to come in. During the contentious primary, Lonegan staked out solidly conservative positions that threatened to erode some of Christie’s support among the state’s Republican voters. State Assemblyman Rick Merkt, who represents a district in Morris County, finished behind both of his rivals.

Recent polls showing Corzine trailing Christie in a general election matchup combined with the incumbent governor’s slumping approval ratings have given Republicans hope that they could use the New Jersey race as a springboard to a national comeback in the 2010 midterm elections.

Corzine, who faced no serious opposition in the Democratic primary, which was also held on Tuesday, cruised to an overwhelming victory. But even as Christie celebrated his election night victory, battle lines were already being drawn by the governor, who appeared at a campaign kick-off rally Tuesday night with Vice President Joe Biden.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23255.html

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Too bad - we can only hope Lonegan wiill withhold his endorsement, and the conservatives will stay home.

[rurallib]

1. so is Christie a full Rushie endorsing repug

or is he one of the vanishing "moderates" - which really don't exist.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. Well, he flat out said he wouldn't sign a gay marriage bill

So, he's definitely not a moderate.

Most NJ Republicans I know actually support gay marriage.

[brentspeak]

3. He successfully poses as a moderate

He's not unpopular, but Corzine is. Unless some hidden Christie scandal surfaces, or he otherwise commits some gigantic campaign screw-up, my guess is that Corzine won't be seeing a second term.

[No Elephants]

5. Should Corzine have been primaried?

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. He was. He beat three opponents with over 3/4 of the vote:

http://elections.nj.com/dynamic/files/elections/2009/by_state/NJ_Page_0602.html?SITE=NJNEWELN&SECTION=POLITICS

[ramapo]

11. Corzine has a battle ahead

I'll vote for him but don't think he has done a particularly good job. It should be interesting.

[tabbycat31]

12. Christie is full of scandals

[tilsammans]

7. Christie was a top NJ fundraiser for Dubya in 2004 . . .

. . . that's all I need to know.

Yeah, he's a 'Puke, all right. :puke:

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. 2000, not 2004

He was a US Attorney during 2004 and was barred from political activity.

[RBInMaine]

4. The goal has got to be to stick the Rush Limbaugh National Republican Label To Christie and NJ R's.

Attack the party, the party, the party !! Glue Bush/Cheney/Limbaugh to ANYONE who dares call themselves a Republican. NJ folks won't stand for that.

[No Elephants]

6. Yep, Cheney him! Corzine is going tto need a good organization. It's important bc doesn't NJ

have an incumbent US Senator who is quite old? If his seat becomes vacant, we don't want a Republican Governor filling the vacancy.

[tabbycat31]

13. yes, Lautenberg is 84

and was just re-elected.

I signed up yesterday to work on the Corzine campaign. He's not my favorite, but he's faced problems head on instead of sweepign them under a rug. We've got a fight ahead and need all hands on deck.

[cali]

8. and toe sucker morris is going to manage his campaign n/t