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How Chris Christie Gamed Cory Booker
New York Magazine ^ | 6/4/2013 | Jason Zengerle

Posted on 06/04/2013 2:38:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway

By scheduling New Jersey’s special U.S. Senate election for October 16, Chris Christie has avoided appearing on the same ballot as Cory Booker in November. But he’s also made it more possible that Booker won’t appear on the October ballot.

Booker, the Newark mayor and media darling, still has to be considered the odds-on favorite to take over Frank Lautenberg’s seat. But Christie’s decision to fill that seat with a special election this year, rather than waiting until 2014, makes it all but certain that Booker will face at least one challenger in the Democratic primary on August 13.

The opponent Booker really doesn’t want to face is Frank Pallone. For years, Pallone, a New Jersey congressman, has tiptoed up to the line of running for statewide office, only to get cold feet at the last minute because he didn’t want to risk losing his congressional seat. It was assumed he’d pull the same stunt with the 2014 Senate race. But now the calculation has changed. Pallone can run in the August primary without risking anything. Sources are now saying that’s exactly what he’ll do.

On paper, the quick primary should favor Booker, who has high name recognition and the ability to raise lots of money. But don’t count out Pallone. Not only does he have more than $3 million in campaign cash on hand. He’s also spent years memorizing the operating guide to the New Jersey Democratic Party’s machinery that Booker has never bothered to study. Christie’s announcement today means that Booker is going to have to take a crash course.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
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1 posted on 06/04/2013 2:38:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Yeah. Right. Spin it like a brilliant victory for Christie.

Whoo-Hoo.[/s]

2 posted on 06/04/2013 2:39:37 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: nickcarraway

I no longer give a damn how Christie snookered Booker. My husband is unemployed in this state with no chance of recovery any time soon. I voted for the lap band kid and would like to cut off my arm for that stupid vote. He disgusts me.


3 posted on 06/04/2013 2:41:54 PM PDT by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: nickcarraway

The title should read...

“How Christie Gamed Booker and Screwed The GOP At The Same Time”


4 posted on 06/04/2013 2:44:08 PM PDT by tennmountainman
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To: nickcarraway
oh geesh.....Frank Pallone is NOT going to run against OBAMA"S FRIEND CORY...get REAL!!

Pallone will be joined in his bed by a GOAT HEAD.

5 posted on 06/04/2013 2:45:00 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: nickcarraway

A kabuki dance, and not even a very good one. Cory Booker is the designated winner of that “election.” The $$$ from all those liberal donors to Christie will bring their desired result.


6 posted on 06/04/2013 2:45:41 PM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: Ann Archy

What’s the story with Pallone? He’s seems a queer as a ...well, you get my drift.


7 posted on 06/04/2013 2:46:56 PM PDT by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: miss marmelstein

He;s a Democrat...they are ALL QUEER!


8 posted on 06/04/2013 2:48:14 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: nickcarraway

9 posted on 06/04/2013 2:51:12 PM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Ann Archy

Do you know anything about him? He’s married but very gay...


10 posted on 06/04/2013 2:52:13 PM PDT by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: nickcarraway; Liz; miss marmelstein; ml/nj; JoyjoyfromNJ; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; Jewbacca; ...
By scheduling New Jersey’s special U.S. Senate election for October 16, Chris Christie has avoided appearing on the same ballot as Cory Booker in November.

So why the heck should Christie be scared about appearing on the same ballot as Booker? Not only would Christie not be facing Booker head to head, Christie would be at the top the ballot for the Republicans, which should, if Christie had as much confidence in himself as he seems to exude, provide "coattails" for the GOP Senate nominee. Oops, maybe Christie doesn't think that helping that GOP nominee is such a good idea after all.

11 posted on 06/04/2013 3:12:30 PM PDT by justiceseeker93
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To: nickcarraway

Looks like liberal RINOs are being given Christie talking points already...


12 posted on 06/04/2013 3:13:41 PM PDT by SeminoleCounty (GOP - Greenlighting Obama's Programs)
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To: ScottinVA

Obama engineering the sale of senate seats. Something he has experience at. I don’t give a damn who wins. I’m outta here in the Fall. It’s all about the skin color any way. Booker, Patrick, blah blah blah


13 posted on 06/04/2013 3:22:38 PM PDT by jersey117
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To: justiceseeker93
So why the heck should Christie be scared about appearing on the same ballot as Booker?

The prospect of the first black senator from NJ will bring blacks out in droves. Blacks vote 9 to 1 for Democrats around the nation. In NJ, it's probably 100 to 0 for historic elections like this one. Mid term elections have low turnouts. High black turnout combined with low white turnout could lead to a landslide for the Dems. This why Christie was smart to decouple the historic senatorial race - with Booker running - from the general election. And I'm someone who thinks Christie should just switch parties and be done with it.

14 posted on 06/04/2013 3:26:14 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Travis McGee

Nothing makes me more ill then photos of turncoat Commie fatso Christie or Vladimir Obumbo.


15 posted on 06/04/2013 3:40:00 PM PDT by AlexW
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To: Zhang Fei
The prospect of the first black senator from NJ will bring blacks out in droves. Blacks vote 9 to 1 for Democrats around the nation. In NJ, it's probably 100 to 0 for historic elections like this one. Mid term elections have low turnouts. High black turnout combined with low white turnout could lead to a landslide for the Dems. This why Christie was smart to decouple the historic senatorial race - with Booker running - from the general election.

True that.

I still think that Christie would win, but his margin would be much less. Holding both elections in November would hurt the Republicans in the down-ticket races.

The Democrat machine normally only gets cranked up once every couple of years -- now it has to be cranked up three times. It isn't cheap to drag their core voters out to the voting booth.

16 posted on 06/04/2013 3:51:35 PM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: Zhang Fei; All
The prospect of the first black senator from NJ will bring blacks out in droves.

Could be wrong, but Booker doesn't seem the kind of black politician who appeals to black racists. Just not radical enough, like he seems to try to be tough on crime in Newark. Also he presents too much of a middle class image. Plus, running statewide, he would have to be careful not to turn off whites. And I don't think he's as much of a machine guy as his black predecessors as mayor in Newark. Remember too he'd be running for Senate, not president, in an off-year election.

All in all, you may be overestimating the potential black turnout effect for Booker's Senate candidacy. There may be some, but nothing like Obama.

17 posted on 06/04/2013 3:55:47 PM PDT by justiceseeker93
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To: nickcarraway
More like: How Christie Gamed Republicans
Guarantees Democrats Keep Senate Seat for Years to Come
18 posted on 06/04/2013 4:02:21 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (Rome didn't fall in a day, either.)
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To: justiceseeker93

The Obama people will show up in droves to vote for booker. If the special election is on separate days they can’t vote D across the line for all candidates. Smart move


19 posted on 06/04/2013 4:05:42 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: justiceseeker93

Cory Booker is black, unlike President Obama.


20 posted on 06/04/2013 4:06:14 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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