Posted on 05/28/2012 6:19:05 AM PDT by EricTheRed_VocalMinority
So wrapped up in the national events leading up to November’s elections, I totally forgot this Tuesday is the primary here in New Jersey. And we’ve got an entrenched Democrat Senator, Bob Menendez, up for his umpteenth reelection. Question is: Are there any Republicans who have a shot at unseating him?
U.S. Senate Race: Republican Party Primary
GOP voters have choice between three outsiders and a state Senator in June 5 primary to win change to unseat Sen. Menendez
By Joe Tyrrell, May 25, 2012Some of the candidates may object to the pecking order, but both feathers and ideas are flying in a freewheeling, issue-oriented campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The battle for the dubious honor of challenging well-funded incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, in a presidential year has attracted four energetic, if not especially well-known, contenders.
Best known is state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, R-Monmouth, and the most recent poll numbers found that more than two-thirds of New Jerseyans had never heard of him. None of the major polls even bothered to gauge voters’ opinions of the other Republicans: Bader Qarmout, David-Douglas Brown and Joe “Rudy” Rullo.
The polls also showed support somewhat soft for Menendez, which is giving Republicans hope in their quest to unseat him. They argue that the struggling economies of the nation and state make this year's contests harder to call than in other presidential years, when high turnouts often favor Democrats. ...
I think of the four GOP contenders, I like Qarmout the best. I like his story (He's a Jordanian Christian whose parents came over to the U.S.--legally!--to give their kids a better life). Plus he seems to be the only one of the four who is solidly conservative, based on their stances on national security, taxation, health care reform, and illegal immigration. Those are my top issues.
But I’m a realist. Kyrillos is the odds-on favorite. He’s the most well-known, most politically experienced, and most frequently endorsed by other Republican politicians, including Governor Christie. But he seems to be too moderate and establishment for my taste. So why not support a true conservative?
I’m also realistic enough to accept that Menendez will beat anybody, including Kyrillos. Republican governor or not, New Jersey is still a blue state and as long as Democrat dinosaurs like Menendez keep bringing home the bacon for his constituents he’ll get reelected.
Sorry - not this Tues, NEXT Tues June 5
The question for us is what are we going to do after Kyrillos wins the Republican nomination. Like you, most people don’t even know we have a primary in eight days. Kyrillos has enough organization to guarantee a win in a sparsely voted primary.
I, however, think that Kyrillos might have a shot in the fall. He is a well-respected and fairly well, known politician. He is a reasonable alternative for a lot of people in New Jersey. And the one-third name recognition is not as bad as you would think, because half the people would probably not recognize Bob Menendez’s name, either.
The only Kyrillos wins is if this is a wave election like 1996 or 2010. If Republicans are riding high, and people are looking for an alternative to the Democrat incumbent, a candidate like Kyrillos could get a lot of centrist and Democrat votes. Until you and I change the political climate in New Jersey — and I know we are working on it, but it is going to take a long time — this is how Republicans win in New Jersey. They need to be the stable, centrist alternative on that odd day when the voters are not happy to wander into the voting booth to vote Democrat.
The question for us is what are we going to do after Kyrillos wins the Republican nomination. Like you, most people don’t even know we have a primary in eight days. Kyrillos has enough organization to guarantee a win in a sparsely voted primary.
I, however, think that Kyrillos might have a shot in the fall. He is a well-respected and fairly well, known politician. He is a reasonable alternative for a lot of people in New Jersey. And the one-third name recognition is not as bad as you would think, because half the people would probably not recognize Bob Menendez’s name, either.
The only Kyrillos wins is if this is a wave election like 1996 or 2010. If Republicans are riding high, and people are looking for an alternative to the Democrat incumbent, a candidate like Kyrillos could get a lot of centrist and Democrat votes. Until you and I change the political climate in New Jersey — and I know we are working on it, but it is going to take a long time — this is how Republicans win in New Jersey. They need to be the stable, centrist alternative on that odd day when the voters are not happy to wander into the voting booth to vote Democrat.
To all Primary voters: List the top 10 demonstrated positive values for each Candidate for all offices, and vote accordingly.
BTW, let us make this a “clothespin-free” election!
If you value your vote, then vote your values!
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