Yes, Jack will win the June GOP primary and he'll probably win it quite handily: Here's why, and remember that all of the factors I'm about to mention bode well for Jack in November as well:
1) Nobody works harder than Ciattarelli. I've seen more than a few statewide electoral contests in my time and some truly relentless contenders, but nobody tops Jack in terms of tenacity. And Jack's been downright audacious about it, announcing his 2025 candidacy nearly four years ago when he came thisclose to defeating Phil Murphy in one of the biggest electoral stunners in New Jersey history. Jack wasted no time in pivoting to 2025. Since then, Jack has covered every corner of the Garden State from the smallest speck on the map to the biggest urban center -- no small feat in the nation's most densely populated state boasting 564 municipalities. This man is indefatigable!
2) Nobody raises more money than Jack. Ciattarelli has a huge campaign war chest. In fact Jack has already received the full $5.5 million in matching funds provided by the State of New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) which matches $2 for every $1 raised over $185,000, with a maximum match of $5.5 million and a spending cap of $8.7 million in the gubernatorial primary. Jack's fund raising is part of an exceptionally well-oiled apparatus that has a wealth of expertise and experience on its side, along with connections to the sort of people who know how to keep money flowing into the campaign including dollars from the all important small donors.
3) Nobody is better known than Jack. Poll after poll has shown that Jack Ciattarelli has the highest name recognition by far among GOP candidates and he probably even bests any of his likely Democrat opponents on that front as well. The mere fact that he's simply known up and down the state as "Jack" should tell you all you need to know about the development of what is now a potent brand -- a brand that is built on Jack's daily retail politics, his numerous media appearances and his mastery of social media. Jack's campaign operates on all fronts and recognizes the power of repetition with an old rule of public relations in mind: "First tell them that you're gonna tell them; then tell them; then tell them that you told them." This is a relentless operation that is built on brand ascendency.
4) Ciattarelli's support is deeply rooted and his base is strong. Primary elections come down to grassroots support from a strong base and this is no more true than in New Jersey because we have no single statewide media source. We really have no statewide newspaper, radio station or TV station and New York and Philadelphia media outlets only cover New Jersey in passing, if at all. Because of this, candidates cannot easily emerge and build up a following without the investment of significant amounts of money combined with organization and hard work over time. Grassroots support does not magically appear. It's built through time, talent and treasure. Jack has maximized all three and the result is a devoted following for a recognizable leader. And all this is particularly true among rank and file New Jersey Republicans -- the people who actually do the hard work that produces wins on election day.
5) Jack knows the issues, knows how they impact everyday voters and knows how to communicate all this. I've watched Ciattarelli in small group settings. I've watched him interacting one-on-one with voters. I've seen him in town hall settings and in candidate debates. I've watched him confronted in moments when others might lose their cool or make the sort of gaffe that triggers embarrassing headlines. He has remained disciplined, focused and on-message without appearing packaged or inauthentic. And he masters issues and explains them in a meaningful way without coming across as a policy wonk. In other words, he's real. And when he tells you that being Governor of New Jersey and serving people like you is the only thing he's interested in, you believe him.
Is Jack Ciattarelli the perfect candidate? Nah! Nobody is. They're all flawed in one way or another. They're only human. That's what makes politics so fascinating; what makes it such a compelling human drama. But in this unfolding drama -- right here, right now in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli is your best bet and the closest thing to a champ we've got.
No comments:
Post a Comment