It's almost time!
Our friend Matt Rooney of Save Jersey will be one of the moderators of tonight's New Jersey Republican gubernatorial debate which will be held on the Rider University campus. We'll be there tonight and we hope you'll be watching the debate via the New Jersey Globe on facebook, twitter, youtube or other sources shown above.
If you watch the debate, here's what to look for from each of the four candidates in the GOP primary race:
John Bramnick: This state senator is the only current elected officeholder running for the nomination and he will certainly tout his winning ways. And, to his credit, he has been elected and re-elected as a Republican in a reliably Democrat state. But that's been just in his own bailiwick, not statewide. Can Bramnick show that he can be more than a regional success and how in hell can he explain his longstanding opposition to Trumpism, and apparent animosity to Trump and his followers? That's no small hurdle in the current climate as the GOP seems to have moved beyond its former posture of Democrat Light. Where does all that leave the somewhat professorial Bramnick? Stay tuned!
Jack Ciattarelli: We'll admit it -- we like Jack. But, who doesn't? He comes across as your amiable, trusty neighbor. Smiling Jack won't simply lend you his mower, he'll probably mow the lawn for you or shovel the snow off your sidewalk, if need be. He's basically been running for governor ever since he almost won the job with a stunning showing in 2021. But almost doesn't count and now, in the age of Trump 2.0 Jack has to find a way forward embracing even some parts of Trump's agenda that he might have previously eschewed. While doing this, Jack would do well to mix it up a bit. Temperamentally, be less like Tom Kean and more like Chris Christie -- instinctive, spontaneous, feisty, even combative now and then. That could be the winning formula!
Ed Durr: Of all the candidates, Ed Durr is probably the only one who can justifiably claim to be a true and loyal Trumpster. After all, Durr came on the scene via a history-making upset in the same style as Trump. Durr, the giant killer, made national news when he defeated NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney but the triumph was short lived when Durr failed to raise a sufficient war chest, got snagged by local intra-party squabbles and wound up losing his re-election bid. So now, tonight Ed The Trucker's gotta explain why he's even running for governor in the first place. That may sound like a tall order but then again ask yourself this: why is Steve Sweeney himself now running for governor after suffering that humiliating defeat at the hands of Durr? Touché!
Bill Spadea: Up until last week Spadea was a conservative radio talk show host who somehow managed to continue his radio gig even after announcing he was running for governor. That takes no small amount of acrobatic talent, yes? With his beard, his graying temples and his intense gaze, Spadea at times reminds us of Ted Cruz -- be careful, this guy can be menacing. At one time or another, on his talk show Spadea has said just about everything and anything and, of course, some of this may (and probably will) come back to haunt him. But he's verbally agile and knows how to turn on the charm when he has to. Still, does he have the command of the issues, the demeanor and political savvy to be governor? Tonight will be the first test of that.
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