By David Cruz
NJ Today
Most observers figured that when the second debate rolled around it would be Republican Steve Lonegan who needed the knockout blow, but as the candidates prepare for round two tonight, it’s Cory Booker that needs to blunt the momentum of his hard-charging opponent.
“This is a guy who’s supposed to be so far up in the polls,” said Lonegan. “Obviously, they’re seeing exactly what we’re seeing and that is that we have the momentum. He does not have the momentum. New Jerseyans are catching on to his failed record in Newark, miserably failed record in Newark, and that’s not what they want in the United States Senate.”
Lonegan still trails by 12 points according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, which may sound like a comfortable lead. But perhaps not when you consider he was up by over 30 points just this summer.
“Twelve points is good,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Most candidates would be delighted to have 12 points, but when you’ve been campaigning along on the theory that you’re going to wipe the other guy out by 30 to 35 points, 12 points doesn’t make you worry, but it does make you think a little bit.”
And perhaps cause your campaign to pivot to attack mode, which is what most debate watchers felt Booker did at last week’s first debate. But not according to the Booker camp, which says their rhetoric today is the same as it ever was.
“Yes, I think that that’s the case,” said Booker Communications Director Kevin Griffis. “We’ve been making the case all along that Mr. Lonegan is out of step with New Jersey, out of step with the issues that voters care about.”
Griffis says there is no different strategy for tonight’s debate. “I think again we’re gonna see the mayor look to point out the differences. Look, elections are about choices and he’s going to lay out the choices for New Jersey voters.”
Last week’s contest had both men calling the other extreme. Today Lonegan wouldn’t share his strategy but said he hasn’t had to prepare anything special.
“Everything that I talk about comes from a philosophical basis, so I’m able to go into any debate, not just having the facts in how to answer questions but know why I believe in what I believe in,” said Lonegan. “That’s the big difference between me and Cory Booker.”
As for the Booker camp, which has managed to parrot the prevailing opinions of the majority of New Jersey voters while still dropping 20 points in the polls, they’re spending the last few days of this race rationalizing.
“We had a lot of support early on that, really, wasn’t sustainable and I think what we’ve seen is a country that is very polarized right now,” said Griffis. “You’ve seen a little bit of some Republican support moving back toward the base, back toward our challenger, which is what we expected.”
A special election — on a Wednesday in October — is an electoral crapshoot, and next week’s winner will likely be determined more by who comes out to vote, than who wins tonight’s debate.
Booker was in Newark today, although not available to talk to us. His campaign says he’ll start a statewide bus tour Friday, presumably with his foot on the gas and no longer in cruise control.