The Murphys rolled out the party machine alright - in a particularly heavy handed fashion. Party leaders, in advance of budget negotiations, were perceived to be compromised to coalesce around the Governor’s thinly qualified wife.
Virtually all of Tammy’s endorsements came from people and entities with business with the State. Kim was effectively shut out of the party line, and in some instances from delegates as soon as she declared.
The irony that Menendez was both a product of the party machine and a driving force was not lost on voters. Pushing an obvious nepotism candidate to replace a corrupt Senator against a very well qualified candidate was offensive. People were pissed and where they could vote privately, it showed.
@PartisanRobinGreen1mo1MO
I follow closely.
Nuance: I’ve worked inside NJ Dems, running progressive candidates against the machine’s chosen who got the line. A few times we beat the regular Dems even though we had Column C. Ugly time.
Agree: People were pissed to be presented w/nepotism & inexperience.