« Early Voting Service | Main | Goin' To the Chapel »
June 16, 2004
Faint Praise
Kerry's not playing too well in New Jersey, a former Democratic stonghold.
But several polls this year show the state's voters — largely New York City commuters and blue-collar workers — are about evenly split between Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry, with one poll showing Mr. Bush in the lead.
Speculative reasons include that New Jersey was hit hard by 9/11, its economy is on an upswing, or (more likely) that Kerry doesn't connect well with its bluecollar workers.
"It's hard," said William T. Mullen, president of New Jersey's building trades union and a fervid Bush detractor. "Bush wraps himself in the flag from 9/11 and the war. He knows how to play that to his advantage."
Even Mr. Mullen, obviously a card-carrying member of the new A.B.B. (Anybody But Bush) party, admits that Kerry has problems connecting with the working class.
Asked whether Mr. Kerry's patrician — some say French — face and wife worth an estimated $550 million hurts his ability to relate to the working class, Mr. Mullen replied, "Yeah, but he's our rich French guy and we got to stick with him."
Now that's party loyalty.
Posted by Rita at June 16, 2004 06:21 AM
Comments
Similar (but reversed) situation here. Midland, Texas is less than 100 miles away and promoting a vote against President Bush wouldn't be well received. Although there are concerns that the President is becoming hesitant and some people threaten to not vote if he keeps it up, I've never heard anyone say they would vote for Kerry instead.
Posted by: kenneth at June 16, 2004 06:58 AM
Why would anyone vote for someone who won't take a solid stand on an issue - and stick with it? At least Bush has balls.
Posted by: yayaempress at June 16, 2004 02:24 PM
I don't think the A.B.B. movement (or any anybody-but-_____ thought) is healthy. Feeling that your only option is to vote against someone rather than for someone you support can't be good for your faith in a political system.
Posted by: Hot Abercrombie Chick at June 16, 2004 04:03 PM
I hope you are right, but I say that knowing that New Jersey is the only state in the union that has:
Two Democrat Senators; and
Majority of democrats in the House of Representatives; and
Majority of democrats in BOTH houses of the state legislature; and
A democrat governor.
We are also the state that brought you John Corzine, Robert Torricelli, and the cadaverous Frank Lautenberg. And, the Sopranos.
Posted by: Jim - Parkway Rest Stop at June 16, 2004 09:07 PM
Kenneth, one of our Little Rock pundits said recently that NW Arkansas was so conservative that we wouldn't even admit to living on the left side of the state. I can't say that he's wrong.
Yayaempress & Ambercrombie Chick, I don't get it either. It's like they're not "For" anything; just anti-Bush. Which defines them, true, but not in a constructive way.
Jim, I'd be surprised if Jersey doesn't stay Democratic. But I've been wrong before.
Posted by: rita at June 16, 2004 09:34 PM