Dan Cirucci: After 51 Years, Can NJ GOP Turn Things Around?

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

After 51 Years, Can NJ GOP Turn Things Around?

Richard Nixon was President. The French Connection was the best picture of the year. Roberta Flack's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was the big song of the year and HBO launched the first television service directly transmitted to cableTV.

The year was 1972. And it was also the last time New Jersey elected a Republican (Clifford Case) to the US Senate.

Incredibly, for more than half a century New Jersey Republicans have been unsuccessful in reclaiming Case's seat. And the list of GOP losers is a long and sorry one: Bob Hugin, Joe Kyrillos, Tom Kean, Jr., Bob Franks, Rik Mehta, Jeff Bell, Steve Lonegan, Dick Zimmer, Doug Forrester, Chuck Haytaian, Pete Dawkins and Millicent Fenwick.

But now a unique opportunity presents itself. Indicted incumbent Bob Menedez may be forced to resign or not seek re-election next year, putting his senate seat up for grabs. The Democrats don't appear to be worried. Menendez be damned; they regard this seat as their own personal domain. And who can blame them? They even own the Governor's office so, if "Gold Bar Bob" does resign, Phil Murphy can appoint another Democrat to replace him and give that appointee a leg up going into next year's election.

On the Republican side? Well, let's just say there's not a stampede for the senate nomination. Popular Democrat-turned-Republican Congressman Jeff VanDrew has said he's considering a bid and people have reportedly urged State Senator Mike Testa to run. Jack Ciattarelli (perhaps New Jersey's most popular Republican) seems laser focused on his 2025 gubernatorial bid.

Of course, lightening could strike and the GOP could take over one or both houses of the state legislature this year and that would open the door for rising Republican statehouse pols to seriously eye Menendez's seat. And that may not be so far fetched when you consider that the Cook Political Report has just shifted its rating of New Jersey’s 2024 Senate race from Solid Democrat to Likely Democrat, Hey, any glimmer of hope, right?

Still, hope needs a plan -- and a candidate. Maybe the New Jersey GOP needs to think completely outside the box. Maybe we need to take a page from Ohio and elect someone like best selling author J. D. Vance to the US Senate. In a year when the red wave was barely a fading pink ripple, Vance scored an impressive victory in the Buckeye State. Anybody like that in Jersey? Well, we could turn to Harlan Coben. With over 80 million books in print worldwide, Livingston's own Harlan Coben is the number one New York Times author of thirty five novels. Now a Ridgewood resident, would Coben be interested in a senate bid? Well, he's proven his success as an author and he's doubtless got the bucks (and the choice connections) to make the race. Who knows?

Of course, the GOP could turn to a well known athlete. Former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski ("Jaws") is now a Medford resident and hugely successful businessman. Legendary New York Yankees pitcher and commentator Al Leiter is a New Jersey native and Summit resident. Plus, there's New York Giants great Bart Oates who's now a successful New Jersey attorney residing in Harding Township. And what about US soccer star Carli Lloyd? Lloyd is a Delran native and a true American hero who reportedly still resides in New Jersey.

The point is that the New Jersey GOP has got to Think Big and learn to color outside the lines. Maybe Joe Piscopo could still be convinced to enter the political arena. Maybe Buddy Valastro will be willing to cook up a US Senate race. New Jersey is hardly short of world class talent. And who knows if anyone would run unless he or she has been asked.

Remember: nobody even thought of Ronald Reagan as Governor until a group of California businessmen approached him with the idea, and we all know where that led. And yes, we can add many others to this list including New Jersey's own Bill Bradley and former astronaut Mark Kelly who's now a US Senator from Arizona. By the way, remember former Eagles lineman John Runyan who defeated the incumbent to win a key House seat here in South Jersey? That was quite an upset! After a couple of terms, Runyan retired from politics but last we checked he still resides here in New Jersey. Who knows, maybe Big Jon Runyan would be willing to take one more turn as a giant killer.

Be audacious, New Jersey Republicans. Be daring! What the hell do you have to lose?

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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