Check out the map of the NJ Turnout and you will see that something was up in this election. If you don't really know the NJ electorate/population you have to understand where the votes are in the state. Much like the country at-large the geographic distribution of votes isn't even. Here is a map from the 2012 Presidential election. That stripe of dark blue that goes diagonally across the state is where the votes are. Normal turnout in Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Mercer and Camden Counties would have significantly altered the results. Perhaps not enough to change the outcome, but certainly enough to make the election much closer. Instead these counties had record low turnout for a statewide race.
Christie was able to cut deals with the Democratic leadership in the state, aided in no small part by his total control over the distribution of billions of dollars in Sandy aid. Many Democratic mayors in towns that were devastated by Sandy endorsed Christie in the hope/fear of ensuring that needed aid would be directed to their communities. A large portion of the legislative leadership on the Democratic side is backed by the same development/business interests that brought us Christie in the first place. Deals were cut, turnout was suppressed and Buono was left hanging out to dry...by our state Democratic leaders. Why? Its the usual suspects. Money, influence, power and the comfort of knowing they can hold on to their own positions.
No dictator reigns solely on his own capabilities. They need their toadies to prop them up. Hard as it may be to accept, the blowhard in Trenton has a stable of Democratic enablers that support his agenda and inflate his image and power.
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