The New Jersey governor’s race has a debate tonight:
There should be a webcast at http://www.njn.net.
Meanwhile, Forrester is running ads calling the Democratic Party corrupt:
PRODUCER Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm.
ON THE SCREEN The ad shows close-ups of a multicultural collection of people, identified by name and party affiliation, who appear to share two common traits: they are all Democrats, and all disgusted with the way their party has run state government.
THE SCRIPT “I voted for Democrats almost all my life – but not this time.”… “I’m a Democrat and I am fed up”… “The corruption is out of control” … “It is pathetic”… “It’s hurting our schools”…”The corruption is causing higher property taxes”… “Enough is enough”… “The people of New Jersey, we deserve better” … “It’s time for a change in New Jersey”… “Only Doug Forrester has the honesty and integrity to fix things”… “I’m a Democrat who’s voting for Doug Forrester”… “It’s time to take back New Jersey.”
ACCURACY After a parade of corruption scandals in New Jersey’s state and local governments in recent years, most polls now show that voters of both parties consider ethics a top issue. And two of those scandals have indeed involved educational institutions squandering millions in tax dollars – one involving the Schools Construction Corporation, the other the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. But the contention that Mr. Forrester is the only man honest enough to clean up state politics has been complicated by the fact that he has spent weeks defending himself from accusations that his company, BeneCard Services, received no-bid government contracts, and his campaign might be in violation of a state law that forbids insurance company owners to make political contributions.
SCORECARD This ad attempts to pull off a twofer: reminding people of the state’s disheartening spate of corruption cases while coaxing despondent Democrats to voice their displeasure by voting for Mr. Forrester. Democrats hold a substantial registration advantage in New Jersey, so those crossover voters will be essential for Mr. Forrester to overcome Mr. Corzine’s double-digit lead in most polls. Given the widespread revulsion with political corruption in the state, it could effectively energize voters eager for change – if it can be heard above the lingering questions surrounding Mr. Forrester’s own business practices and campaign finances. One other point: As in “The Doug I Know” commercial, Mr. Forrester never appears in this ad, and the Republican Party is never mentioned.link
Despite the staggering hypocrisy in this ad, it will probably be effective. The New Jersey Democratic party is rife with corruption and always has been. The New Jersey Republican Party has also been corrupt for as long as I can remember. It’s the nature of the state. But Corzine is not a product of the party machine. He rose to the top by spending his own fortune and he is not tainted by associations with the party bosses. Corzine cut everyone who matters a check and was done with it. As Jersey candidates go, Corzine is as clean as they come, and it is one of his selling points. Forrester is wise to try to paint Corzine as just another corrupt politician (like himself).
He’s also wise not to show his face or mention the Republican Party in his commercials. Democrats might use this strategy in some deep southern states.
Well, booman, I have to say I do not have much invested in NJ politics, except that hoping it has some good to give to us in other states to look at.
Corzine is not like all the others cuz he has his own money. That is a big difference [however, I do not know his personal financial cercumstances] he seems clean of corruption. Unlike those already reaping what the lobbist and others are giving till it gets their way on things. Why did he leave the senate?
Corzine is not free from the taint of scandal. But, as NJ politicians go, he is a saint.
I suppose he is willing to give up his Senate seat for two reasons. One, he is one of 100 members there, whereas the Governor is in charge. And two, the NJ Democratic Party is totally discredited and needs someone like Corzine to save it from the voter’s wrath.
I understand. HOpe we can fill his seat with a good democrat. Thanks booman. I do not know about NJ political scene at all. Only what I hear.
This is very interesting to a wide-eyed girl from Washington state. We have so little of that (‘cept for that naughty mayor in Spokane)…. it’s kind of interesting… and I see flashes of “The Sopranos” as I read along.
Who would Tony vote for, Boo?
would get Tony’s vote. He wants to keep the bribery channels open so he can continue to control the Newark waterfront and construction jobs. Actually, Corzine might threaten traditional lines of political power, which come in large measure from mob money from Atlantic City, Philly, and the New York harbors.
I absolutely DETEST those frigging Doug Forrester ads. And the companion ad shows his wife talking about him in the “good father” mode. Taken together, it’s pretty effective. I know the truth, and I still find myself almost falling for it!
Yecch.
yup. I should find out who is running Forrester’s media campaign. They are doing a very good job. Maybe we can turn them from the dark side.
yup, man, turn their words against them. We all must fight fire with fire. From what little I hve seen in Corzine, I doubt he will let anything like that stop him for his strife for getting the most votes…What do you think? Can he turn it around for his benefit?
I get the New York City NBC feed via DISH .. and I’m taping some shows tonight for Darcy.
Will I get to see those nasty ads then?
(Okay, to be perfectly “up front” here, we’re curious about that new Earl show, so I’m going to tape it so we can satisfy our curiosity. I’m sure we’ll detest it, and never watch again. Handily, it’s on at 6PM here on the NYC NBC feed, so that frees up the rest of the night to tape other shows, such as FX’s “Nip/Tuck” — which is quite a good drama.
We get the ads on NBC out of Philly, so it seems like you have a pretty good shot at seeing them…they make me crnge every time I see them.
Neither of the candidates are all that great, but I just feel Corzine is too beholden to the corrupt people running the state now. http://newjerseyblog.blogspot.com/