Post-election addresses and statements are usually conciliatory, but the bad blood between Congressman Chris Smith and his vanquished challenger Mike Crispi, a conservative podcaster, appears to run bone-deep, Save Jerseyans.
“He has lied repeatedly,” Smith told an Election Night crowd in Colts Neck. “At first I was told to ‘just ignore it.’ I finally got to the point where I wasn’t going to ignore it anymore and I set the record straight,” Smith told the crowd. “He even showed up at our home last night and put a sign on our lawn. That is so bush league and sophomoric. […] Hopefully he never runs for anything and nobody in this organization ever supports him.”
Crispi responded in kind on Twitter.
“When Smith won last night he was downright vicious in his remarks. I quote: ‘he should never run for office again or ever get the (NJ GOP) organization’s support if he does.’ Disgraceful and small,” Crispi tweeted. “He knows we surged down the stretch and his comments were made out of fear.”
When Smith won last night he was downright vicious in his remarks. I quote: “he should never run for office again or ever get the (NJ GOP) organization’s support if he does.” Disgraceful and small. He knows we surged down the stretch and his comments were made out of fear.
— Mike Crispi (@MikeCrispiNJ) June 8, 2022
Crispi’s campaign led by legendary GOP operative Roger Stone leveled attack after attack on Smith and his four decade record on Capitol Hill. Crispi had hoped to draw the support of Donald Trump who called for challengers to Smith back in November 2021 but the former president ultimately stayed away from the contest.
Smith, for his part, downplayed any disagreement with Trump.
“Infrastructure was what it was all about. Nothing more, nothing less. Trump signed six of my major laws while he was president,” Smith said on Tuesday evening. “I get along with the president.”
Mail-in ballots will continue trickling in for awhile, but Smith currently leads Crispi by a little better than 20-points – 57.6% to 37.0% – with better than 95% of votes tabulated in NJ-04.
A third candidate (Steve Gray) stands at 4%.
Mike Blasi left the race but after he had qualified for the ballot; he fetched 1.3% of the total primary vote.
