Malodorous political ads

Candidate’s Scented Mailing Says Albany ‘Stinks’

Excerpt:

There could be a surprise waiting in your mailbox this weekend, courtesy of Carl P. Paladino, a Republican candidate for governor. Not the front of the brochure, which states that “Something really stinks in Albany.” Nor the back, which features images of tarnished Democrats like Gov. David A. Paterson, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and former State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi.

But open it up, and you will be greeted by an unmistakable odor: rotting vegetables.

Comment: Taking it to the fetid limit! Official site: Paladinoforthepeople

GOP wins New Jersey Gubernatorial!

Christie Gives GOP Stunning Win In N.J.

Excerpt:

In the end, all the stumping in the world from the President of the United States wasn't going to stop regime change in New Jersey's highest office.

Republican Chris Christie ended Democrat Jon Corzine's four-year run in Trenton with a narrow victory on Tuesday, CBS News projected. Independent Chris Daggett, thought of by many as the wildcard who could upset the order of things by siphoning off votes from Christie, finished well back.

With 5,138 of 6,305 precincts reporting, Christie led Corzine 49 percent to 44 percent.

Independent voters gave President Barack Obama a huge advantage in the state last year, but they heavily favored Christie on Tuesday.

Voters said their top concerns were the economy and jobs, followed by property taxes. Voters who said the economy was important favored Corzine, while voters who said taxes mattered most supported Christie.

Christie's win will likely be perceived as a big defeat for the White House. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden had stumped for Corzine several times during the campaign, and they had hoped the result would speak positively to the job they are doing in Washington.

Comment: Cf yesterday's post. We lived in New Jersey for 7 years (1980-1987)

More from the NY Times. (image above is a screen capture from the NY Times)

New Jersey gubernatorial: A race to watch

Chris Christie: 'I'm a Tax Cutter'

Excerpt:

With the New Jersey governor's race coming down to the wire, Republican Chris Christie has been criticized for not being specific enough about his tax plans. In an interview with us this week, though, he had plenty to say. "My plan is to lower taxes each and every year that I'm governor," he said. His aim is to reduce the state's tax burden -- now the highest in the nation -- below those of next-door New York and Connecticut. "And we're going to do it over four years," he says.

For now, Mr. Christie offers two tax pledges for his first year: repeal a Corzine property tax hike and allow a Corzine income tax hike to expire. As a result, he says, the top income tax rate would drop back down to 8.9% from 10.75%, and more than a million people would receive property tax rebates. The cost would be roughly $1.5 billion, which he says would be offset with spending cuts.

Comment: Up against the incumbent. I understand the polling shows a tight race. (We lived in New Jersey for 7 years. Taxes are very high there (really all along the NE coast)

Update: Latest polls have Christie ahead! But within the margin of error!