By Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron
NJ Today
Senate minority leader Tom Kean has a plan to win back the majority for the first time in a decade.
In an internal memo to his Senate colleagues, he lays out what he calls “the recipe for a Republican wave” — attract the best candidates, raise more money than the Democrats and ride Chris Christie’s coattails.
It’s happened before.
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“Look at ’85. It’s the exact same dynamic that exists as when my father ran for reelection — extraordinarily popular governor focused on real solutions running against a status quo that tried to block that type of affordability for the people of the state of New Jersey,” Kean said.
A pick-up of five seats in the 40-member Senate would win back the majority and make Kean Senate President.
His plan got a boost yesterday when former state Sen. Peter Inverso declared he’s running for his old seat.
We called Inverso for an interview. A spokesman said it’s too early and there will be a formal campaign kickoff in a few weeks.
His former chief of staff, Steve Cook, who will run for the Assembly on Inverso’s ticket, said the 74-year-old Inverso talked to a lot of people.
“And the feedback that he received was that there definitely are some issues out there that he can make a difference on — reform being a huge issue,” Cook said.
Democratic Sen. Linda Greenstein holds the seat now and is gearing for a fight.
“It’s gonna be a spirited race. We’re looking forward to it. Frankly I’m used to that and I’m not sure I’d be able to do it any other way,” Greenstein said.
“After doing the polling in Hamilton, what he found is that the voters definitely remember him and respect him for the work that he’s done,” Cook said.
“The district has changed quite a bit since the times when Inverso ran. He last ran about 10 years ago, which is a very long time,” Greenstein said.
Kean, who recruited Inverso and had lunch with him today, says the Republican message this year will be “reform.”
“People are tired of the status quo. They want progress and not gridlock. And people who are standing in the way of real reform and real affordability and opportunity for the state of New Jersey are gonna get washed away in the wave election this year,” Kean said, adding that he wants to be president of the Senate.
Turnout in the last legislative election was 27 percent. In a gubernatorial year, that’s expected to rise to about 47 percent, and it’s that swath of extra voters Senate Republicans think could carry them to victory alongside Christie.