Big Money Flows in New Jersey Races to Thwart Christie Agenda

[DonViejo]

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
Published: November 4, 2013

Democrats and unions, fearful that a landslide victory by Gov. Chris Christie will reshape New Jersey’s political landscape, have poured tens of millions of dollars into a record-breaking outside spending campaign that has transformed the state’s election season.

The effort, designed to preserve Democrats’ dominance of the State Legislature and complicate Mr. Christie’s plans to build a record of legislative achievement as he considers a presidential bid in 2016, has inundated some legislative districts with millions of dollars in negative ads on a scale never before seen in New Jersey.

As of last Thursday, according to the state’s election law enforcement board, outside spending for candidates had topped $35 million, twice the amount spent when Mr. Christie, a Republican, was elected in 2009 and the highest recorded by any state except California.

The surge of spending is likely to be replicated around the country next year, as outside groups from both parties signal increasing interest in influencing state-level contests.

full article
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/nyregion/in-new-jersey-big-money-flows-to-foil-christie.html?_r=0

[TreasonousBastard]

1. 35 million? This is why we don't tax the rich---

they have much better things to do with their money.

[libdem4life]

2. Refusing corporate donations is political suicide for any serious candidate from either party.

Excuse the phrase, but ... they all do it ... because they have to. There are few potential candidates with any sense who would give up his/her day job, survive the new "vetting", survive the sinister personal attacks, put their family through the same process by the press, be wealthy enough to prime the funding pump, and then turn down corporate money.

That's my opinion of Democrats getting behind/endorsing the one they think will win, albeit early. McAuliffe is a case in point. Booker, another.

Eight years, even of a DINO beats 8 years of Tea Party/RWers. At least the Left/Progressives will have 8 more years to field a potentially winning candidate.

[Myrina]

3. Dumb outsider question: but what if he gets a Dem legislature?

Can they steer him in a less obnoxious direction by not sending him any Walker-like bullshit bills to sign?

Or does he already have one that he's been strong arming?


Thx.

[athena]

4. Both the Senate and the Assembly are Democratic.

It hasn't stopped Chris Christie from doing stuff like this:
Chris Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Increase
Chris Christie Vetoes Gun Ban
Chris Christie Vetoes Pig Gestation Crate Ban
Chris Christie Vetoes Tax Increase on Millionnaires

[Myrina]

5. ARGH.