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Raising new issues
Originally appeared in the Jersey Journal on 09/29/01
Two new major issues have emerged in the campaign for governor in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, according to the Republican candidate, former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler.
One is which candidate will be better able to protect the state in the event of any future attacks on the region; the other is which candidate will better able to cope with a precarious economy.
The safety issue is obvious, the economic one less so.
Schundler said that before the terrorist attacks, the economy was still generally regarded as healthy despite some signs of weakness. Now, he said, "we're looking at going into a recession."
Naturally, Schundler thinks he's best able to handle those issues.
Schundler said that in his own post-attack conversations with voters, he finds that many want to know how national and international issues will affect the state.
If either candidate gets a boost from the aftermath of the attacks, it figures to be Schundler, because of President Bush's overwhelming favorable ratings.
Schundler said he still hopes Bush will be able to come to New Jersey to campaign for him, although he conceded that's impossible to predict because of the current events. A return appearance by New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who campaigned for Schundler in the summer, would also be a tremendous asset because of his tremendous popularity now. New York Gov. George Pataki is also expected to be asked to help.
As for recent polls showing him still trailing Democrat Jim McGreevey by double digits with five weeks to go, Schundler said he's not concerned.
He noted that he came from much further back in the Republican primary to win handily.
Quinnipiac University, which has been very accurate in its polling, showed Schundler behind by 14 points earlier this week, a gain of five points for him from the most recent previous poll by the school. Schundler said Republican National Committee polls show him trailing by 10 points.
An indication of how Schundler will fare in Hudson County may be seen tomorrow night at Casino-in-the-Park.
There's a rally for him at which organizers hope to draw as many as 1,000 people.
They also hope a large part of that crowd is made up of Democrats and independents, who the Republican candidate must attract to make inroads here.
The Schundler strategy is to hold McGreevey to a plurality of 20,000 or less in the Democratic stronghold. Schundler maintains if that happens, he'll take the state. If the Republican candidate were anyone but Schundler, MGreevey could safely count on a 50,000 plurality here.
"We're doing very well in Hudson County," said Jose Arango, a Schundler campaign aide and county Republican co-chairman. His said internal polls show McGreevey with a low single-digit lead in Hudson, well within the GOP target.
Arango has other electoral issues on his mind.
As a member of the committee charged with redistricting for the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, he's concerned about the panel's future.
Its chairwoman, Beth Janiszewski, resigned last week. She was the only one of the four committee members who had done any significant work on redistricting.
The submission of the redistricting plan is almost one month overdue. The primary for freeholder is eight months away.
Arango said he will call a meeting of the remaining members this week to try to figure out their next step.
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