The New Jersey Delegation

by: Scott Weingart

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 05:29:42 PM EDT

Of the pledged delegates, 59 are pledged to Clinton and 48 to Obama. Eight superdelegates have declared that they will vote for Obama on the floor: Gov. Jon Corzine; Reps. Steve Rothman, Rush Holt and Don Payne; State Sen. Dana Redd; and DNC members Don Norcross, Dana Redd and Roz Samuels. DNC National Finance Chair Phil Murphy has not endorsed. The others eleven are, or at least were the last time someone bothered to ask them, committed to Senator Clinton.

New Jersey Delegation - Rock Caucus

by: Scott Shields

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:42:17 PM EDT

Multiple sources confirmed to the Rocky that Jon Bon Jovi will fly in to perform two acoustic songs before Sen. Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech at Invesco Field on Thursday. After the speech, Bruce Springsteen (photo at right) will close out the night, presumably solo acoustic (E Street Band member Nils Lofgren told the Rocky last week that the band wouldn't be with Springsteen in Denver).

What, no Misfits reunion at the faith caucus?

Booker fires up the Jersey delegation

by: Scott Weingart

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:23:27 PM EDT

But it was the final speaker of the morning, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who brought the crowd to its feet with a fiery defense of the Garden State. Booker recounted the state's key role in the American Revolution, and he highlighted several New Jersey firsts, among them the first light bulb, the first football game, and the first electric guitar. Booker closed by addressing the delegation's lousy seating at the convention center:

"Let them seat us in the back, because New jersey is loud, we are proud, we can be heard above the crowd."

Newark Mayor/Obama delegate Cory Booker. More pictures below the fold.

NJ r00lZ Denver

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf

Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 10:48:35 AM EDT

Track National Ads Running In New Jersey

by: huntsu

Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 11:44:14 AM EDT

New Jersey is pretty much in the Blue column for November, so we're not going to see a ton of advertising from either campaign except the national stuff.  There will be some Philly stuff down south, but it will be targeted to Pennsylvania and not to us.

So I was wondering what we are going to get to see, and whether any of you are seeing these ads.  Do Blue Jersey a favor and treat this as an open thread on how the national campaign ad strategy helps or hurts us here in NJ, and whether you've seen any ads in the upcoming week.

It could be the McCain ads already running in the Olympics, the upcoming Obama ads slated for both local cable and the Olympics, or something some third-party group put together.

Please put the campaign or sponsor (if third party), the time, the channel and -- if you can figure it out -- whether the ad was a local, regional or national buy.

On Neil Cohen's replacement

by: Scott Weingart

Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 10:46:36 PM EDT

It's more than likely that disgraced Assemblyman Neil Cohen will resign his spot as an Obama Delegate. His resignation will require that one of the six Obama Alternates will be promoted to delegate as a result. This selection will provide the state committee with an excellent opportunity to add some diversity to the delegation.

Based on exit polls, 13% of the Democratic primary electorate fell between the ages of 18 and 29. Yet the New Jersey Democratic Committee's delegate selection plan set a goal of just 12 of 145 delegates between 18 and 35, which is just over 8%. Youth are represented at higher levels in Pennsylvania and Florida, two states with larger elderly populations.

While the deadline for officially griping about the plan has long since past, Cohen's presumed resignation will give the Democratic State Committee a chance to make the state's Democratic delegation look more like its Democratic primary electorate. Let's hope they take it.

Convening a National Conversation about Democracy & America in Denver

by: Mayor John Hickenlooper-Denver Host Committee

Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 02:44:56 PM EDT

Now that one of the most remarkable primaries in our nation's history has concluded, attention is turning to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  In less than three months, the Mile High City and the Rocky Mountain West will host this historic event for the first time since 1908.

The Convention also coincides with Denver's 150th birthday - a
century-and-a-half of progress and innovation since its birth at the height of the Colorado gold rush.  A hub of opportunity for people seeking new frontiers, people come to Colorado seeking much more than gold these days.  The spirit of visionary zeal and limitless possibility is as strong as ever in the New West.  So it's fitting that as the Democratic Party marches toward its own new frontier, it will do so through Denver.

A message to all of you in New Jersey: you don't have to be in Denver - or on the Convention floor - to get in on the action though.  The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has organized two interactive ways for people anywhere in America to get involved.  We're convening a national conversation about democracy and community and invite everyone to participate.

The Delegates of Florida and Michigan

by: Hopeful

Sat May 31, 2008 at 07:12:28 PM EDT

The rules for 2008 seek to give incentives for states to schedule their primaries later in the season.  The key is that these are incentives only, so that if New Jersey moves up to February 5 we will not lose any delegates.  Since our original date was in June, we would receive a 10% bonus for remaining there.  (This is a reward for "good behavior.")  By the way, if we moved back to June from an earlier date, we would have gotten a 30% bonus.

Well, we could have had another 11 delegates if our Presidential election is next week, but that's not the point.  The rules were plain -- even an amateur (me) could understand them.  Since the minimum penalty was 1/2 the delegates, today's decision on Florida and Michigan's delegations is appropriate.  Perhaps New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina should have penalized too, but frankly as a New Jersey voter I have no interest in what order the four early votes go before us.  

Howard, We've Got a Problem.

by: Jeff Gardner

Fri Feb 15, 2008 at 05:58:07 PM EST

At the Top of the Seventh Inning you don't change the agreed upon team rules that were set down and made clear from the start.

Michigan and Florida made choices and the DNC made a declaration...

To seat them now and after the fact ... is a very dangerous road to travel down and will lead to all kinds of conflict and a weakening and discrediting of the DNC.

I started to write a comment, but rather than hijack the thread, I thought this was worthy of a new diary, because for all the recent talk of superdelegates overturning the popular vote of the people, I see a much larger problem brewing when the DNC and Howard Dean seek to enforce their proposed calendar sanctions on these two states.

Here's the problem: "Michigan" and "Florida" didn't "make choices" - party insiders in those states made choices. Bad ones it turns out. Many of these party insiders are the same superdelegates whose choices progressive groups - including Moveon.org and Democracy for America - are arguing now should not be allowed to overturn the popular vote. Who could argue with that logic? Notwithstanding the obvious seventh-inning rule change this in itself would be, we're democrats - and our sense of democracy should place the will of the voters over the undemocratic decisions of a handful of party insiders. So, what's the problem?

Well, Michigan, we can all agree is a mess, because no one was on the ballot but Hillary. More than likely Obama (if not Edwards) would have won the state in a real contest. Given that background, It will be difficult for Hillary to win an argument that Michigan's pledged delegates should play a role in selecting the nominee. (And a rerun is likely out of the question - first, because the Michigan democratic party doesn't want a rerun; and second, because although Obama would likely do well, he needs to hold tight to the "rulebreakers don't get a say" position to prevent the looming Florida problem.) While over half a million people voted in the democratic primary there, they didn't have a real choice to make.

But, Florida? That's where the blood is going to spill. Because the candidates were on the ballot, and (mutual accusations of minor toe-dipping aside), they refrained from active campaigning there. Yet, still, more than 1.7 million democrats voted in the Florida primary. That broke the state's previous record set in 1988, and amounted to more voters than participated in the democratic contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina combined.

Those voters didn't make a choice to break any rules. The only choice they made was to go ahead and participate in their state's primary in record numbers.

Now, maybe this will all be moot if one or the other candidates sweeps through the remaining contests to build up an inpenetrable delegate lead. But, if not, how exactly does the DNC plan to ignore the majority will of 1.7 million voters when the only people who chose to break the rules were a handful of Florida's democratic party insiders?

Start fighting.

50 State Strategy in Your Neighborhood

by: Jorge C. Santos

Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 03:37:36 PM EST

As New Jersey's Super Tuesday results showed, big-time, voters from both red and blue parts of the state are participating at record levels. And we have a bumper-crop of hundreds of thousands of new Democrats.  But all this phenomenal participatory democracy needs local leadership to follow-up and keep it hot. DNC Chair Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy has been a fight-everywhere movement to recognize and give tools to grassroots power. And in that spirit, I want to let you know about a program that the DNC is putting into place with the NJ
Democratic State Committee.

It's designed to put the 50-State Strategy right into your own hands, and in your own neighborhood. This is a direct invitation to all active Democrats. We're hoping you can help us build something extraordinary.

It's called the Neighborhood Leader Program.  The work of Neighborhood Leaders is simple - they'll each talk to 25 voters at least three times before Election Day 2008, and they'll recruit two more people to become Neighborhood Leaders as well. It's very doable and we can walk you through it.

The success of the Neighborhood Leader Program lies directly in the method of voter contact - direct, personal conversations with voters at the door or on the phone.  Every campaign knows that these are the most effective ways of communicating with and persuading swing voters. Personal communication works better than TV ads, better than mailers, better than robocalls - it's the essence of grassroots politics.

Democratic Party staffers, like me, are working across the country organizing house parties and meet ups to train local activists in the program.  By Election Day, there will be tens if not hundreds of thousands of these Neighborhood Leaders across the country with a big chunk right here in the Garden State.

This is designed so that you can have maximum impact in your own neighborhood, with no time wasted. As a Neighborhood Leader, you agree to be the Democratic contact for your little group of target voters, and - this is important - it will also work the other way around, so that you're representing those voters to the Democratic Party. You agree to reach out to your voter group three times between now and Election Day- the time commitment is about an hour week for three weeks spread over the course of the 2008 campaign.  In some cases, you will be the only contact these voters have with the Democratic Party.  You will be helping the entire slate of Democratic candidates in your area from President to Senate to Congress and the local level.

Lists, lit pieces, scripts and other materials will be sent out from the NJ DSC and you can always call or email with any questions you might have about the program.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Jorge Santos
NJ Democratic State Committee
609.392.3367
jsantos@njdems.org

Clinton supporters and the unseated delegates.

by: Matt Feinstein

Sat Feb 09, 2008 at 01:53:18 PM EST

Dear Chairman Dean,

The stakes have risen again.

I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats around the country to win the general election, and so I am writing to support the seating of delegates from Michigan and Florida.

With Romney now giving way to McCain, the Republicans are quickly regrouping, giving them an edge to capitalize on the closeness of our Democratic race. I urge you to avoid the potential polarity that could result if this race results in a contested convention. Under no foreseeable circumstances can the party afford not to seat the delegates at the eventual convention. The convention is not only about electing the nominee, it is also about organizing and rewarding the local state party activists and keeping them excited and committed to the party.

In Florida, we saw a record number of votes cast. Among the other "legitimate" contests, the voter turnout placed Florida among the other key states of California, Illinois, and New York. Comparing the Democratic turnout against the "legitimate" Republican contest, we are poised to take the state in the general election.

Michigan voices are equally important. Those who supported Obama and Edwards weren't blocked from voting and were even encouraged to cast their ballots as "uncommitted." The uncommitted column had a strong showing of 40 percent, actively representing many Michigan voters. The candidates had every opportunity to appear on the ballot and any decision not to appear was their own tactical decision.

The ballots cast expressed the will of the people. Having a revote under changed circumstances in the Democratic field would not be reflective of what our party represents. In fact, any solution that falls short of sitting the existing delegates is completely unfair and anti-democratic.

Historically, banned delegates have always been reinstated to maintain party unity. I understand the political implications make this a difficult decision, but I ask that you let us continue to be the party of unity. Let us not turn our back on fellow Democrats, but rather have all voices heard. Let us elect a President of all 50 United States and Territories. Let us maintain the commitment to expanding opportunity for every American.

Respectfully,

YOUR NAME

(I apologize that I am not HTML savvy, so I have merely enclosed a link to the above letter. http://umd.facebook.com/group....

Is it is me or this political equivalent of the old saying "it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission?"

In paragraph two I would like to question the letter's claim that we should avoid polarity by seating the Florida and Michigan delegates. I believe that if the DNC chooses to seat these delegates it would in turn polarize the millions of Obama supporters around the country who have fought to get where we are today. Further, if the DNC seats these delegates it would send a clear message that the Democratic party is still accepting of back room politics and could disengage the millions of previously disinterested youth voters who have come out for this year's primaries.

Next, the letter claims that if we don't seat these delegates we are going to run the risk of losing voters of Florida and Michigan. This seems like the old fashioned scare tactics we have all grown so sick of. "Seat these delegates or we will lose" is essentially what it posits. But how about this idea: if turnout was so high for what voters knew was destined to be an irrelevant primary, imagine what voter turnout will be like when they know it counts.

The letter goes on to claim that not seating the delegates would be "unfair and anti-democratic." Imagine if convicted felons, who are legally prevented from voting, all were to cast votes that they knew would not count. In addition, these felons voted for a particular candidate in overwhelming force. Then, the candidate who won the felon vote essentially demanded that those  votes be counted. How would you feel about this? My point by no means equates Floridians or Michiganders with felons, but merely attempts to make the point that to allow a group of individuals who are well aware that their votes will not count towards the delegate race would, in itself, be "unfair and anti-democratic."

Finally, the letter claims that banned delegates have previously been seated at the convention. I do now know anything about this and if someone more knowledgeable than I would be willing to elucidate it would be greatly appreciated. (If I had to venture a guess, and this is purely conjecture, I would say that the reason why they are seated is because the nomination was already locked up and we wanted all 50 states to support the candidate. Again, that is a guess and I could be completely wrong.)

What do you think? Should the Florida and Michigan delegations be seated?  

Blue Jersey to NJ Delegates: Pledge to uphold DNC rules

by: Scott Weingart

Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 03:32:21 PM EST

New Jersey is one of twenty two states that will hold a Democratic Presidential primary or caucus on Feb. 5, the so-called "Super Tuesday". Two states, Florida and Michigan, moved their primaries ahead of Super Tuesday in violation of DNC rules. The punishment the DNC imposed for this violation, namely stripping both state of all of their delegates, was almost certainly a painful one, to give and to receive. But Democratic legislators and party leaders in both states ignored repeated warnings from the DNC that moving up their primary would cost them their delegations. They knew the rules, they knew the consequences for breaking them, and they broke them anyway.

Yet Hillary Clinton has held fundraisers in Florida and will visit the state for a rally tonight, despite having pledged not to do so. Barack Obama's national ad buy includes the Florida media markets. It seems that the candidates are giving Florida just as much attention as they are giving New Jersey, if not more.

Senator Clinton will ask her delegates to flout DNC rules and vote to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. If either she or Senator Obama clinches the nomination before the convention, we have no objection to seating at least some of these delegates in the name of party unity. But if the candidates enter the convention with neither controlling a majority of the delegates, seating the Florida and Michigan delegations would serve only to make a mockery of the DNC rules and bylaws and punish the 22 Super Tuesday states, including New Jersey, who decided not to play a disrespectful game of high-stakes chicken with the DNC. Therefore we call on New Jersey delegates and alternates for all candidates to pledge to vote against any motion to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida, absent an agreement among all three remaining candidates to do so.

NOT democratic. Not even close.

by: Jeff Gardner

Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 10:36:29 AM EST

Last year, the Democratic National Committee put together a little something called "Delegate Selection Rules" for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, to ensure a fair and equitable process nationwide. Among the more obvious requirements is Rule 17-B:

Any individual or group of Democrats may sponsor or endorse a slate of candidates for convention delegates. But no slate may, by virtue of such endorsement, receive a preferential place on a delegate selection ballot or be publicly identified on the ballot as the official Democratic Party organization slate....

Obvious? Not in New Jersey.

Here in the Garden State, our Democratic State Committee's attorney has submitted a letter (right) to the AG's office requesting that ballots statewide not only place the county Chairs' choice first, but in those counties where no endorsement has been made, to hold a two-step process to determine ballot position:

1- a drawing between only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to see which of their delegates will receive the first position, and which will be second, and

2- a second drawing among all the rest to see whose delegates will be placed in the remaining positions, third and below.

Some county Chairs are even interpreting the DSC proposal to mean that the Clinton and Obama delegates will automatically be entitled to the first two ballot positions in every county.

Absurd? Yes. Legal? Almost certainly not. Fair? Absolutely not.

Putting aside the question of whether county Chairs should ever have the power to unilaterally decide ballot position (they shouldn't) or to have their official endorsement appear on the ballot (most states have outlawed this practice), the really undemocratic part of the DSC's proposed plan is the elevation of Clinton and Obama to preferred ballot status statewide.

That plan clearly violates both the letter and spirit of the DNC's delegate selection plan, and puts our state's delegation at risk of disqualification.

And that wouldn't be democratic at all.

Continuing the Fifty State Strategy

by: JRB

Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 05:02:26 PM EDT

50 State Canvass

by: ScarletKnight

Tue Apr 24, 2007 at 01:57:02 PM EDT

In Evesham, there is a slate of candidates for Mayor and Council against the Republicans who run the town and serve as a base of GOP power in Burlington County.  That non-partisan election is on May 8th.

In Morris Township, the walk will help support Democrat Jeff Grayzel in his quest to break the 30 year 5-0 Republican rule on town government.  That election is May 1st, just 3 days after the walk.

You can sign up for these walks at DNC 50 State Canvass.

I will be in Morris Township on Saturday and I greatly appreciate those on this board and at DFA who have committed to help in these special elections.  Hopefully local Democratic victories in these traditionally Republican areas will be a sign of good things to come for a Blue(r) Jersey.  If you're interested in helping out on these two races outside of Saturday, please call the Democratic State Committee at 609-392-3367.

Op-Ed: Back to Basics

by: Mary Campbell, DNC Organizer

Sat Mar 24, 2007 at 09:58:14 AM EDT

That is the idea the NJ Democratic State Committee and the Democratic
National Committee are striving to accomplish; working from the
grassroots up to establish a sense of unity among the Democratic
Party. As part of the DNC 50 State Partnership program, my colleague
and I have been able to truly engage ourselves into the local and
grassroots level of New Jersey politics.

After working closely on the Flemington council special elections and
the two specials in Ocean County -- South Toms River and Lavallette --
it is apparent that there is a strong sense of party for the Democrats
in these typically Republican towns. After winning two council seats
and falling only a few votes short in a mayor's race where Democrats
are outnumbered almost 6 to 1, the sense of accomplishment and passion
to fight against Republican control has grown immensely.

Picking up council seats in Flemington and South Toms River proved to
the Republicans that voters are ready for a change. Voters want to be
heard. They expect their local officials to be responsive and find
solutions for the needs of the communities; to help the people. This
is what the newly elected council members are working to accomplish.

With help from Democracy for America (DFA), College Democrats from across
the State and local and county volunteers the Democratic Party has
been able to make big strides in small areas.

One exceptional volunteer and devoted Democrat, Rosi Efthim, from the
Hunterdon County DFA did not only help in the Flemington Special
Elections but traveled across the state to be an important volunteer
in South Toms River (Ocean County). Without people like Rosi or the
other DFA members that have been beyond supportive of the 50 State
Partnership Program and building Democracy at the grassroots level,
none of this would be possible.

Our next project is a Township Committee special election in Morris
Township where we are working with the dedicated team of Morris County
Democrats to elect Jeff Grayzel. The Republicans have all five seats
on the township committee, but Jeff has been fighting hard for the
past four years, gaining inroads. His tenacity paid off when he won on
Election Day this year. However, his election was then challenged and
ruled to be a tie. Now we face the task of "re-electing" Jeff Grayzel
on May 1.

Because this is a larger race than the past elections, we will need
your help. We need at least 35 to 40 volunteers for weekend walks and
calls, as well as 100 volunteers for Election Day. Please come out and
support Democrats from across the state! As Bill Clinton once said
"There is nothing wrong in American that can not be cured by what is
right in America." It is the little strides we take as Democrats that
create Democracy.

Mary Campbell is a regional field organizer for the New Jersey
Democratic State Committee and a liaison to the DNC's State
Partnership Program.

50-State Strategy kicks ass in Flemington, NJ.

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Feb 16, 2007 at 02:17:26 AM EST

Our secret weapons were two young women in sneakers and blue jeans who pounded out our GOTV program over a sleepless two days in the inadequately-heated Hunterdon County Dem HQ. It was more efficient, more productive and frankly, one hell of a lot more fun than anything we have ever done. The Republicans didn't know what hit them. And it drove the win. 

One of the fundamentals of Gov. Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy is Show up everywhere. And that doesn't mean just mayor's races in Salt Lake City, state contests in Alaska or gaining ground in the Show-Me State. For this to work it also has to mean that we concede no vote even in the most crimson portions of very blue states. Places like Hunterdon County. 50-State Strategy = 21-County Strategy.

So here's the thing: Next time you hear some self-serving dinosaur like James Carville spin bullshit about replacing Howard Dean as DNC Chair, remember the paradigm shift Dean presides over. Money lifts from the hands of Beltway consultants, and pays for organizers like Mary Campbell and Colleen Montgomery who fan out and help generate victories powered by us. Boom. Out of those victories emerge better government and better direction.

We won in Flemington tonight. If James Carville or Rahm Emanuel or anybody else wants to take down Howard Dean, they have to knock me down first. And I'm in a feisty mood. Did I mention we won?


UPDATE & Postscript, later that same year: On the night of this victory, our next candidate stood on a chair and announced that she was running next: Linda Mastellone, the first-ever candidate to emerge directly out of Hunterdon DFA. We won that race too, in a blitz of DFA-intensive work. And with Linda's win, the Democrats took control here, here in this town where Republicans outnumber Democrats two-to-one. Boom! - - Rosi

DNC Going Into Debt for Menendez?

by: huntsu

Tue Oct 17, 2006 at 08:27:26 PM EDT

And New Jersey is one of the places they're going to put the money, according to Hotline on Call, but the reason is that Menendez's weak showing to-date has meant money spent here instead of elsewhere.

While the DNC doesn't have $10M to just toss around to another campaign committee, the DNC apparently has decided to go into debt to come up with the extra cash DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer has been pleading for from DNC Chair Howard Dean. The actual amount of the loan the DNC is taking out is not known as the committee holds out hope they can raise nearly everything they need before the election. But a line of credit has been opened.

The money is not designated for specific Senate races, however, sources tell us that two races in particular were used as leverage in negotiations between the DSCC and the DNC. Those two races: New Jersey and Virginia. Apparently the extra DNC money will help soften the financial blow the DSCC was taking by incurring the extra cost of saving Sen. Bob Menendez from the challenge of Republican Tom Kean Jr. as well also trying to target Virginia. New Jersey and Virginia sport three of the most expensive media markets in the country (NYC, Philly and DC).

While this kind of stinks for us here in New Jersey, the story is illustrative of why the 50 state strategy is a good one for the Democrats over time.

Jon Corzine Joins Linda Stender for The Democratic Reunion

by: Tracy Joan

Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 03:00:23 PM EDT

Below the fold read the update I got from one of the DNC-funded field organizers!