There has been much made of the of the recent map submission by the Democrats that would put Senators Buono and Vitale in a primary fight for their respective careers. Rather than look at why this is happening, or could happen, pundits seem to be pontificating opinions that range somewhere between confused and concerned. No one seems to be looking at exactly what is going on here. Save Jerseyans, the driving factor behind this Democrat controversy is, and can only be, Senator Sweeney.
It is no secret that Sweeney is eyeing the Office of the Governor for 2013. He has been salavating at the thought of wielding his own veto pen at least since he got a taste during the winter when his own party showed a complete lack of faith in his ability to handle a snow storm in Christie’s absence. He wants it bad, and why not? There is really no one else in his party worthy or stupid enough to take on Christie for the top spot in Trenton. Well, no one except for maybe Barbara Buono. This Middlesex senator is a Codey stalwart who has been a thorn in Sweeney’s side both publicly and behind the scenes. When the North Jersey Democrat machines started falling to the Norcross Empire, Buono did not just go quietly into the night. Now she is paying for it.
Buono has been named quite a few times as a potential challenger to Chrisite, and that makes her a direct challenge to Sweeney, who sees his own district and county turning a darker shade of red every single year. Could he really win a statewide primary when he cannot even keep his own house in order? Who knows, but the prospect does not look good. So, in a completely reactionary move, Sweeney is doing what any good NJ Democrat would do: don’t try and beat the competition, just get rid of it (or her in this case).
By putting Buono against Vitale, Sweeney can support Vitale in the background and ensure that the only viable person to take him on for the nomination loses her job a few years too soon. It was almost inevitable with population shifts and the constraints of that some politician somewhere was going to be forced into a primary fight, but this just is not even subtle! The bell for round one rings on Sunday at noon, it wont be long before we know if Sweeney gets the knock out punch he is hoping for.
