Updated 5:09 p.m.
Tonight’s Metuchen gathering is the first “debate” (billed as a town hall discussion) for the 2017 GOP gubernatorial primary candidates, Save Jerseyans.
The front runner won’t be among them.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno opted out of the Wednesday night event hosted by Middlesex County Young Republicans at the Forum Theatre Cultural Arts Center; her closest competitor in the race for county Republican support, Jack Ciattarelli, took to Twitter to accuse the LG of ‘ducking’ her opponents:
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https://twitter.com/Ciattarelli2017/status/839909071855714305
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The LG’s team shared a letter with Save Jersey to the debate organizers in which she cites her son’s Air Force Academy graduation as the reason for her absence.
Guadagno’s institutional support and superior name recognition have given her an early edge in the fight to succeed Chris Christie; another wild card is former SNL comedian Joe Piscopo who, accordingly to published reports, is still flirting with the idea of entering the race. Challengers including Ciattarelli nevertheless hope to translate general dissatisfaction with her boss Governor Christie’s stewardship of the NJGOP into an upset opportunity.
The Lieutenant Governor is bound to participate in at least two primary debates after having qualified and applied for state matching funds.
Click here for more Metuchen town hall information.
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