Opinion: Steve Lonegan narrowed gap in Senate race with Cory Booker with relentless campaigning

nj.com ^ | 10/4/13 | Carl Golden

[cotton1706]

It began as an all-out sprint with a clear track in front of him. After a few weeks, it became an up-tempo jog. A few weeks after that, it fell to a slow trot. Now, with less than two weeks left, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is stumbling toward the Oct. 16 special election finish line.

His once invincible 35-point lead over Republican candidate Steve Lonegan to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of the late Frank Lautenberg has shrunk to 12 points, and trends suggest it could fall into single digits.

While Booker and Lonegan poll well with their respective party-affiliated voters, those who describe themselves as independents are evenly divided — a potentially worrisome sign for Booker and, in all likelihood, the reason behind the mayor’s latest television advertisement labeling Lonegan an extremist whose views are too radical for New Jersey.

It was unthinkable in August, when Booker rolled to an overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary to become the nominee, that he’d find himself hoping time will be his great ally and Lonegan will be unable to turn a significant number of voters to his cause in the few days remaining before the election.

Booker’s campaign has been an oddly complacent one, produced, perhaps, by the universal predictions of victory.

The only debate was over how great a plurality he’d roll up.

There’s been a “we’ve-got-this-in-the-bag” mind-set surrounding his campaign, giving rise to a level of arrogance that failed to understand the pitfalls in a remarkably light public schedule and, most damaging of all, allowing Booker to spend 10 days in California consorting with entertainment luminaries and his rich Silicon Valley pals.

[cotton1706]

Go Steve!!

[Bulwinkle]

Cory Bullshirter may be the first victim of ObamaCare-Dem-Deathpanel

[ken5050]

Here's the transcript of Lonegan's interview after he defeated Booker:

Reporter: How do you feel about beating Booker, who would have been the first African-American from NJ to serve in the Senate?

Lonegan: He's black? No kidding? I couldn't see that...

[chrisnj]

We should be working overtime to get Lonegan seated in the US Senate!

Please spread the words - encourage/remind everyone you know in NJ to vote on 10/16 for Lonegan.

I have been talking to my friends/relatives overtime to ensure they know about Lonegan and vote.

[cotton1706]

I live in MA but I’m doing what I can to remind people that there’s a senate election on the 16th.

[Tanniker Smith]

I wish I heard more from joe Lhota.

[jersey117]

He’s been great. Those prime time TV ads showing Corey Booker “rubber stamping” obamacare are extremely effective.

[kearnyirish2]

“I wish I heard more from joe Lhota.”

His own commercials point out that he agrees with DeBlasio on most major issues; I think FReepers already have no horse in that race...

[kearnyirish2]

Booker can’t even challenge those commercials; they are effective. A week ago I heard Longan challenge Booker to bring Obama to NJ; the economy here is in shambles, and Obama is toxic (since nobody is blaming Governor Christie). Shining a spotlight on Newark should be sufficient to defeat Booker; on top of that, Americans are now wary of media-annointed “rock stars”...

[Tanniker Smith]

At least Cats would’ve used, or raised, his own money. Well, four years to find a decent republican in NYC. If we survive. Dems have been waiting for 20 years to get their hands on things again. At least I’ll be able to point out one very high profile “former lesbian” to people saying things about being born that way.

[kearnyirish2]

I liked Cats, but I think the city has changed so much demographically that it wouldn’t have mattered. When commercials highlighting DeBlasio’s communist sympathies actually strengthen his lead, then you realize it is a very different city from 20 years ago. Even Giuliani got in only because Dinkins was such a disaster; I can understand why people want a change from Commissar Bloomberg.

I was listening to something about how fear-mongering isn’t working in this race because so many people living in NYC today weren’t even living there 20 years ago. The whole northeast (as well as southern CA) really illustrates the demographic disaster sweeping this country; this country will have a “non-Anglo” majority within a couple of years. The 2050 date is simply thrown out there to prevent a reaction or panic.