N.J. Democrats in Disarray as Christie Fractures Majority Party
June 24, 2013Terrence Dopp and Elise Young | June 23, 2013 | Bloomberg News
President Barack Obama hugged Chris Christie. Bill Clinton shook his hand. Thirty-one Democrats endorsed the Republican New Jersey governor’s re-election bid.
The New Jersey Democratic Party, meanwhile, has squabbled over its leadership, given way on worker pensions and teacher tenure and split on issues from gun control to gay marriage. Its gubernatorial candidate trails by 30 percentage points.
Christie, 50, has the opposition in disarray as he seeks a second term in November — and a possible 2016 White House run.
“He has kind of devastated the Democrats in New Jersey,” said Matt Hale, who teaches politics at Seton Hall University in South Orange.