Election Day '09

This Tuesday, is Obama going to help claim the seats for two democrat gubernatorial elections in states in which he won? He has campaigned in both Richmond and Trenton and most recently in Camden and Newark, New Jersey. Both dirty races, yet without some miracle for the Democrats, an already Republican won Virginia, it looks as if the Dirty Jerz is going to be the race to watch Tuesday night!
According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, with 1,533 likely voters, it shows Chris Christie with 42% to Gov. Corzine's 40%, falling within the poll's 2.5 percentage points. Following in third is Independent candidate Christopher Daggett with 12% and leaving the remaining 6% undecided. If you look at in relation to sports it is easy to see how one win or loss can effect the outcome of this race. This past weekend, the state has been divided not by politics, but by team affiliation that divides the state between NYC and Philly NFL and MLB teams. The race between the Eagles/Phillies, Democrats, versus the Giants/Yankees, Republicans, is a nail biter, all dependant on tonight’s game to see if the Republicans can pull through, even with the Eagles victory. The Independent, Jets/Mets, loss Sunday did not take away percentage points from the main contenders and the non-sports fan pulling in as the undecided vote is a small percentage within the state.
Corzine seems to be holding strong in a Democratic state having Vice President Biden and Former President Clinton campaigning, in addition to the President stopping in both North and South Jersey this past Sunday. With the event being held at Camden, it proved to be a traffic nightmare with more important matters for Jersey residents, the Giants versus Eagles game at 1 pm in Philadelphia. For his sake, I hope the race stays neck to neck and the outcome of his election doesn't prove to be the same as the outcome for the Giants. Most recently Newark has received a lot of national attention on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Even though Newark Mayor Cory Booker has since publicly forgiven the comedian for the jokes surrounding the city, O'Brien was only poking fun at the reality of it all. People not from the area would not know why Corzine/Obama picked these two geographical locations, yet those from the area understand the true reason why they picked the two most predominant crime ridden cities within the state, along with the most amount of non-voters. Sound familiar?
On the flip side Republicans are coming out to show support for Christie in the most unexpected places. South Carolina? U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina), urged support on his visit to Morristown Sunday, the same man who accused the President of being a liar during a joint session of Congress earlier this year. I wonder what a southerner supporting a Yankee in a town known for their bar scene in the Morris county seat minutes from million dollar mansions, prestigious golf courses and equestrian farms thought of his surroundings?
Will New Jersey voters forget Corzine's failed track record these past four years because a President with a not yet seen record asks them to go out and vote? He is a Nobel Peace Prize winner after all.