Republicans made some noise in New Jersey, but the state was not a targeted state for Democrats.  Or, to be more accurate Democrats did not target the state for votes, but for money; New Jersey raised the third largest amount for Democrats after California and New York, but did not see much of that money.  As a leader of the Kerry-Edwards campaign in the state said after the election, the state was Democratic enough so that it "could take the hit."  The Kerry-Edwards leader said the campaign amounted to "bubble gum, popsicle sticks and Elmer's glue."  Both the Codey and Corzine camps were represented in the Kerry-Edwards leadership.  As a non-targeted state, they had limited resources to work with, and at times felt as if they were a lightening rod for criticism.  (Afterwards, one of them suggested that it might have been better to have had somebody from out of state heading the campaign).  Also, given the new parameters under McCain-Feingold, they spent a fair amount of time telling people what they could not do.  Democrats did spend about $500,000 for a GOTV phone program.

Gov. Jim McGreevey's Aug. 12, 2004 announcement that he would resign effective Nov. 15, 2004 formed a major backstory but did not affect the outcome of the presidential race.

Several figures in the 2004 race had New Jersey connections: Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Roger Calero is a resident of Newark, NJ; Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie is a New Jersey native.
 
 

Bush-Cheney '04	Kerry-Edwards 2004
Organization details...	details...
Bush-Cheney '04, Inc. Director: Michael Torpey Comms. Director: Tom Wilson  New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman:  State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos Exec. Director: Brian Nelson	Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc. State Co-Directors: Patti McGuire and A.J. Sabath   New Jersey Democratic State Committee State Chair: Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Exec. Director: Janice Campbell

Travel

BUSH-CHENEY	KERRY-EDWARDS
October 18, 2004 -GWB makes remarks (billed as a major speech) at a rally at Evesham Recreation Center in Marlton, NJ.  October 18, 2004 -LB remarks at Victory 2004 dinner at former Gov. Christie Whitman's farm in Oldwick, NJ. ($)  September 16, 2004 -LB delivers remarks at a BC04 rally at Colonial Fire House in Hamilton, NJ.  March 22, 2004 -DC and LC at a Bush-Cheney '04 reception at Chateau Grand in Lakewood, NJ. (Raises at least $400,000).	October 7, 2004 -JE holds a town hall on homeland security at Cape Liberty Port in Bayonne, NJ.  -JE attends a fundraising dinner at the home of cosmetics businesswoman Bobbi Brown in Montclair, NJ.  ($)  Overnights in Weehawken, NJ.  September 28, 2004 -JE community gathering at Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ.  -JE attends a fundraising reception at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick, NJ.  ($)  June 14-15, 2004 June 14 JK Flight to Atlantic City, NJ.  -Greeted by supporters and makes remarks at the airport in Atlantic City, NJ.  -Fundraiser at rocker Jon Bon Jovi's home in Red Bank, NJ. ($)  Overnight in Atlantic City, NJ.  June 15 -Receives endorsement of New Jersey State AFL-CIO and addresses their annual convention at Bally's Park Place Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Newspaper Endorsements

BUSH Trentonian  (10/29/04)  Asbury Park Press [Neptune]  (10/24/04)

KERRY Jersey Journal [Jersey City] (10/30/04)  *Courier Post [Camden]  (10/28/04)  The Daily Journal [Vineland]  (10/25/04)  Gloucester County Times [Woodbury]  (10/24/04)  The Times [Trenton]  (10/24/04)  The Star-Ledger [Newark] (10/24/04)  The Record [Bergen County] (10/24/04)  Courier-News [Bridgewater]  (10/24/04)  The Daily Record [Parsippany]  (10/24/04)

Third Party and Independent
Ballot Access
NADER
Supporters presented over 1,450 signatures at the Secretary of State's office on July 20, six days before the deadline.
 

More Candidate Visits
NADER
October 31, 2004
Press Conference and Halloween Fundraiser at Shannon Lounge in Hoboken, NJ.

October 23, 2004
Press Conference and Campaign Speech at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ

October 14, 2004
Press Conference (with Carl Mayer and Bruce Afran) and Campaign Speech/Rally at Princeton University, followed by Book Signing at Triumph Brewing Company in Princeton, NJ.

August 31, 2004
Press Conference at the Statehouse in Trenton, NJ.

May 23, 2004
Pot Luck Dinner and Petition Party at private home in Princeton, NJ.

COBB
September 2, 2004
-Campaigns with 12th CD Green Party congressional candidate Daryl Brooks in downtown Trenton, NJ.
-Speaks at the regular meeting of the People's Organization for Progress at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Newark, NJ.
-Hosted by Rutgers Greens speaks at the Student Center of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
 

Copyright ©  2005  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.