Guadagno campaigns in South Jersey, the land Chris Christie’s NJGOP forgot

When Chris Christie lost the redistricting battle in 2011 and focus on the national map instead? No one group of New Jersey residents paid a higher price than the beleaguered Republicans of South Jersey.

A veritable Berlin Wall rose up overnight, running from Pennsauken (Camden County) on eastward through Atlantic County’s southern half comprising the 2nd Legislative District.

south jersey mapNo one in Trenton even pretended it wasn’t a real thing. A few people lied or rationalized the situation to my face, that’s for damn sure, but there came a point when the rest of us couldn’t lie or rationalize any of it to ourselves. Back when a more popular version of himself could’ve actually helped legislative candidates in LD1, LD2, and LD3, the Governor instead chose to lock arms with Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) a mere four weeks before Election Day. He posed for photos at Eagles games — cheering for the Cowboys — and cheesing with the very people whose Super PACs were actively pummeling his own ticket.

The South Jersey GOP has atrophied as a result despite early Christie-era gains in places like Gloucester County which, of course, have since been reversed. Think Bay of Pigs; the candidates were encourage to storm the beaches but air support never materialized. Asm. Chris Brown (R-2) spoke out about it and got pilloried.

Of course, past need not be prologue in politics.

Is 2017 a chance to move New Jersey’s opposition party forward in a positive, decidedly different direction? Even if a Democrat succeeds Chris Christie?

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno is giving interested observers at least some reason to hope she’d be different. A fixture on the South Jersey GOP rubber chicken dinner circuit for many years, and with her own expected run for office a mere 12 months away, the former Monmouth County Sheriff is increasingly popping up on campaign trail in New Jersey’s southernmost 6 counties.

She completed a three-county campaign swing through Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties on Sunday to boost competitive local campaigns:

Early days? You bet.

For now, you can bank on the fact that I’m going to be a one issue voter in next June’s GOP gubernatorial primary.

My single issue obsession: Which candidate is going to rebuild a genuine opposition party capable of taking on Trenton’s ruling majority?

That includes rebuilding a viable South Jersey Republican Party. After all, most of the truly competitive districts are down here. If the NJGOP isn’t going to play here and give the Machine a run for its money then, in all candor, what’s the point of having a party at all? This month’s gas tax sell-out is only the starkest recent reminder of what happens when there’s an abdication of leadership at the top.

Let’s learn our lesson and act accordingly, Save Jerseyans; let’s demand more than we have in the past from LG Guadagno or whomever else carries our banner into next fall’s contest.

Remember… the only other option is moving.

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Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8403 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.