Christie victory should bring cautious optimism for New Jersey Republicans

November 9, 9:20 AMNewark Republican ExaminerJohn Van Vliet

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With the victory of Republican Chris Christie over incumbent Democratic governor Jon Corzine, despite the campaign of conservative Independent Chris Daggett, New Jersey Republicans have reason to celebrate. President Barack Obama's visits to New Jersey, stumping for the unpopular governor who massively outspent his opponents, did little to Corzine's benefit. The president's visitations attracted large crowds, but many turned out to see the president, not necessarily to support the governor, as the author has determined by speaking personally to many who attended Obama's recent visit to Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Still, Republicans should temper their celebration with caution. The New Jersey Assembly has remained virtually unchanged--in terms of party allegiance. Chris Christie himself only won the primary against conservative Republican Steve Lonegan in a fairly tight race, even with the backing of the "mainstream" GOP. One should consider--how much is Christie's win a sign of support for Chris Christie as opposed to fed up New Jerseyians voting out their scandal-ridden Goldman-Sachs governor? Chris Christie may have had half-hearted support from the conservative wing of the Republican Party, those party faithful who were interested primarily in ousting Corzine and secondarily in installing the former Attorney General.

The Republican Party has a new opportunity to redefine itself with Christie’s victory in the heavily Democratic state. The Christie campaign ran heavily on the theme of lowering taxes and promising to reel in wasteful spending. If he can do so, working with an Assembly of almost the same composition as his predecessor, he will also need to look to repairing the Party itself. Christie would do well to try and unite the support of the conservatives who campaigned hard for Lonegan, the independents that supported Daggett—as much as a protest vote as a sign of support for the Sierra Club endorsed candidate, and disillusioned Democrats tired of rampant Trenton cronyism. Then the “miracle” of future Republican victories in this divided state will not seem so uncommon.