Former Republican Governor Thinks New Jersey Democrats May Face “Trouble Right Down the Ticket” in 2013
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
This observation is hardly original to him, Save Jerseyans, but don’t forget that former Governor Tom Kean knows a forming electoral blowout when he sees it on the horizon.
In 1985, he defeated then-Democrat Essex County Executive Peter Shapiro by 71%–24% — the larget margin in state history — and swept other Republicans into office at both ends of the ballot. The GOP picked up legislative seats, county offices and municipal posts. It was morning in America’s Garden State!
Now Kean is predicting a possible wave in Chris Christie’s favor in the post-Sandy political environment:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACFboYrIBwY
Just don’t hang your hopes on a Kean-style 47-point victory…
What’s the major difference between 1985 and 2013?
A lot’s happened in 28 years. For starters, New Jersey is a LOT more “blue” now than back in 1985.
One year before Kean Sr.’s triumph, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan won reelection with 49 U.S. state and carried New Jersey by a massive 60.1% to 39.2% margin over Walter Mondale. 2012 was a much different story for New Jersey Republicans; Barack Obama won statewide by approximately 17.5-points over Mitt Romney (58.39% to 40.61%), representing a significant improvement over his 57.3% to 41.7% win in 2008.
Don’t bet against Chris Christie this November, folks, but don’t bet the farm on him cracking 70%!
There's lots of time before the election.All Mr Christie needs to do is insult the wrong group and his majority will fizzle. We have confidence!