National Dems dump more money into NJ for Menendez

Good Friday morning!

We learned two particularly interesting things about New Jersey’s campaigns yesterday.

One: Republican Tom MacArthur and Democrat Andy Kim really are locked in an extremely tight race. A Monmouth University poll shows Kim with a two-point lead over MacArthur in its standard model. And a New York Times/Siena poll shows MacArthur with a statistically insignificant one-point lead over Kim (this seems more realistic than the last New York Times/Siena poll, which showed Kim 10 points ahead). This is in a district that went for Trump by 6 points.

Two, Senate Majority PAC is spending almost another $3 million in the state to boost Sen. Robert Menendez, bringing its total to nearly $6 million. National Democrats don’t like to spend money in New Jersey, especially when they have seats to defend or win in far less blue states. Clearly, they’re at least a little nervous. At the same time, Hugin is airing a second ad that brings up the old prostitution allegations — missing, of course, the context that casts so much doubt on the accusations’ credibility.

How are these things related? What happens if Andy Kim — or one of the other New Jersey Democratic House candidates in a similarly close race — loses on Nov. 6 by a slim margin. Could a stronger Democrat on top have made the difference? People have been emailing me with that concern for months.

Just a week and a half to go!

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Booker Press Secretary Kristin Lynch, Pallone Chief of Staff Janice Fuller, former Neptune mayor Mike Beson, Murphy campaign adviser Michael Pock. Saturday for NJ 101.5 News Director Eric Scott, Hamilton Twp Councilman Rick Tighe. Sunday for state Sen. Jim Beach

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “So, as the administration deals with what we can call an unpleasant-tasting sandwich, it must not rob Peter to pay Paul.” — Operating Engineers Local 825 Business Manager Greg Lalevee in an op-ed

POLL OF THE DAY — Monmouth: Andy Kim 48%, Tom MacArthur 46% (standard model) More here

ENGINEER SHIFT SANDWICH — “Governor musn’t rob Transportation Trust Fund to fix NJ Transit operations,” by Operating Engineers’ Local 825’s Greg Lalevee for NJ Spotlight: “The audit ordered by the governor faults the annual raiding of funds that were supposed to go to capital improvements for NJ Transit’s operating budget. Unfortunately, this practice has continued as the governor and lawmakers did the same thing in this year’s budget. Even though NJ Transit’s capital budget was increased earlier this year, the audit stated that the agency’s long-term needs are ‘substantially more than what is currently being invested.’ It also concluded the total capital value of the agency’s physical assets has declined by $1.5 billion since 2010 due to the lack of adequate investment. Perhaps no coincidence, left out of the detailed examination is a clear path forward to address NJ Transit’s funding woes. The audit pointed to funding approaches other states use to match reliance on rider fares, which was fine as far as it went. But, the report stopped short of endorsing any one of these approaches. The governor also hasn’t committed to any specific financial remedies, leaving that vital issue unresolved.” Read the op-ed

WON’T DO IT — “NJ won’t pull Nike investment after complaint about Colin Kaepernick ‘Just Do It’ ads,” by The Record’s James Nash: “Investment managers for New Jersey’s public pension funds declined to pull the state’s nearly $25 million in investments from Nike Inc. in retaliation for the shoe company’s ad campaign featuring controversial athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick. The State Investment Council rebuffed a request from one of its members, retired Englewood Cliffs police captain Marty Barrett, to punish Nike for its ‘Just Do It’ ad campaign starring the free agent pro quarterback, who decided to kneel on one knee rather than stand for the national anthem before games. Barrett had called Nike’s ad campaign ‘one of the worst business decisions of all time’ and said the company showed disrespect toward the police and firefighters who responded to the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. Nike stock rallied in the immediate aftermath of the launch of the ad campaign, but has fallen since then, mirroring broader declines in the stock market.” Read the report

TO EVERYTHING TURNER TURNER TURNER — Former Port Authority commissioner fined $1,500 over profanity-laced rant, by POLITICO’s Matt: Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Commissioner Caren Turner has been fined $1,500 for flashing her agency badge and going on a profanity-laced rant against a police officer who stopped a car in which her daughter was riding. A consent order under which Turner agreed to pay the fine was recently posted on the New Jersey State Ethics Commission’s website. “It is the Commission’s position that Turner’s conduct may have violated … the Conflicts Law,” the order states. Turner resigned from her position at the Port Authority in April, shortly before dashcam footage of the altercation in Tenafly went viral. Turner, who had been the ethics chair at the Port Authority, did not admit any wrongdoing. Read the report

—“Parkway, Turnpike go 7 years with no toll hike but how long will the ride last?” Read the report

—“No push for gaming expansion with sports betting’s North Jersey success” Read the report

—“Conlin quietly, confidently making moves at Horizon” Read the report

—“Charter school operators hopeful state tour will help their cause” Read the report

—“Wanaque center where 7 children died in outbreak was not equipped to quarantine patients” Read the report

—”Work on new Portal Bridge reaches milestone, federal funding not yet in place” Read the report

—“State Sen. Michael Doherty opposes law requiring ‘inclusive’ material in textbooks” Read the report

—“Murphy sells New Jersey overseas, did any businesses bite?” Read the repor

BOBBING FOR SENATORS — “National Democrats make another big ad buy for Menendez, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: A Democratic super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is making another big ad buy in New Jersey to help Sen. Bob Menendez in a state that would normally be a lay-up for them. Senate Majority PAC’s $2.8 million ad buy, announced Thursday, indicates Democrats have at least some concern about the race. The group announced a $3 million ad buy just last week. Hugin, meanwhile, continues to spend big on the race. In the last week, he’s given his campaign another $3.5 million, bringing his total self-funding to $27.5 million — the vast majority of what his campaign has raised. The Senate Majority PAC’s ad contains most of the themes Menendez and other Democrats have used against Hugin since he announced his campaign in February: His background as a pharmaceutical executive at New Jersey-based Celgene, his ties to President Donald Trump and his support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. At the same time, Hugin is airing a second ad that brings up anonymous, unsubstantiated allegations made against Menendez in 2012 that the senator solicited underaged prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. Read the report

— “In NJ’s nasty Senate race, sudden bipartisanship may be too late to beat Bob Menendez,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “It was a theme that Republican Bob Hugin hammered at several times in his first and only debate with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez: He will be a beacon of bipartisanship, a builder of compromise and conciliation. If elected, Hugin vowed, he would not to be a rubber-stamp, Donald Trump loyalist, but an independent guided by what’s best for New Jersey. ‘I’m not a Trump Republican. I am an independent Republican,’ Hugin said at one point during the one-hour debate, televised by NJTV. Yet in a time of bitter partisan division, when the angry bases of both parties are demanding combat, not collaboration, Hugin’s message seemed outdated. This is the polarized era of Donald Trump, when the political middle has vanished and moderates have been vanquished. In another, less-divided era, Hugin’s message of moderation and independence might have struck a chord with a broader electorate, argued Patrick Murray, the Monmouth University pollster. But for now: ‘You gotta fight for your team.’” Read the report

STOP HITTING YOURSELF — “’They’re distracting me.’ GOP candidate spends most of 5th Dist. debate complaining,” by NJ Advance Media’s Allison Pries: “The four candidates seeking to represent the 5th District in the house of representatives tangled Wednesday night over issues like healthcare, guns and infrastructure. And Republican candidate John McCann didn’t stop at just debating his opponents. He spent much of the night arguing with the moderator over procedural issues, including where to stand, the absence of microphones — and then he opposed a microphone being brought in once the debate was underway. ‘You can’t keep changing the rules,’ McCann told moderator Nancy Hedinger, president of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.” Read the report

FIRST LADY: LADIES FIRST —Tammy Murphy calls on women in the 3rd District to vote against MacArthur, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: First lady Tammy Murphy on Thursday called on female voters in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District to defeat Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur, calling next month’s midterm elections among the most important in her lifetime. “It’s going to take all of you, all of us, and everyone across the state of New Jersey to make not only our state stronger and fairer but to bring some sanity back to Washington, D.C.,” Murphy said at a rally in Burlington, where she called upon women to band against MacArthur, who is in a tight race against Democrat Andy Kim. “This is one of the most consequential elections, certainly in my lifetime, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.” Read the report

MORE PLAUSIBLE FALSE FLAG THEORY: GROSSMAN IS A DEMOCRATIC OPERATIVE SEEKING TO EMBARRASS THE NJ GOP — “NAACP debate turns hot over bomb question,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “The two major party candidates for the 2nd district Congressional seat sparred Thursday night over questions about immigration, affirmative action, voting rights and the Donald Trump agenda at a debate here organized by two NAACP chapters and the Masons. But it was a question about the pipe bombs recently sent to prominent people that caused the biggest stir. Moderator Rev. Willie Francois of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville asked both to comment on what he called the attempted assassinations of the first black president, the first black attorney general, another former president, and the first woman to be nominated by a major party for president. Democrat candidate Jeff Van Drew said it was unacceptable to have violence directed to anyone, regardless of their party or whether they are liberal or conservative. Then Republican Seth Grossman took issue with the question. ‘You said attempted assassination,’ said Grossman, ignoring a bell telling him his time was up. ‘From what I know (since none detonated) I have to ask, ‘What was the purpose of sending those packages? To act to hurt somebody or influence the election? Who benefits, Republicans or Democrats?’ Look at the motive.'” Read the report

—“Van Drew holds 17-point lead over Grossman, Stockton poll finds” Read the report

DID HE ROB A BANK? — “Webber uses threatening letter to raise money,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “On Wednesday, Republican congressional candidate Jay Webber reported a threat against his family in the form of a ripped up campaign sign and a threatening letter that referred to his seven children as ‘Unlucky 7’ One thing he did was report the threat to police. That made sense. Another thing he did was use the threatening letter to raise money. Does that make sense? True, politics is not a game for the week and candidates must try to capitalize anyway they can. Still , one wonders how this was received by people who got the solicitation.” Read the report

—Steinberg: “Webber will likely vote for cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid” Read the column

FAITH IN T-BONE — “Cory Booker could be a candidate for the ‘religious left’,” by Religion News Service’s Jack Jenkins: “uestions about religion can paralyze some politicians, but not Cory Booker. If anything, the topic seems to relax him. Sitting in his spacious but spartan office on Capitol Hill in early October, the senator propped his sneakered feet up on his desk and waxed poetic about spiritual matters, bouncing between discussions of Jesus’ disciples, housing policy and his own religious practices. “When I get up in the morning, I meditate,” the New Jersey Democrat said, a practice he has often linked to his spiritual health. He paused for a moment, then quickly corrected himself: “Actually, I pray on my knees, and then I meditate.” Booker’s comfort with his faith is unusual for Democrats in Washington, but it’s standard fare for the 49-year-old former mayor of Newark and has even become a mainstay of his blossoming political persona: Even the hyperbole-averse Associated Press recently compared him to an “evangelical minister” after Booker addressed a group of Democrats in Iowa … The sentiment, along with a message of unity that he brands as a “new civic gospel,” is generating buzz among Democrats. But Booker’s brand of public religiosity is especially attractive to an oft-forgotten but increasingly powerful group: the amorphous subset of religious Americans sometimes known as the religious left. If he does run for president, as many expect, Booker may be one of the first Democratic candidates in decades to actively cultivate support from religious progressives.” Read the report

BUT THE GRIDLOCK IN TRENTON IS NOT PARTISAN — “Tired of partisan gridlock in Trenton? Join the club (No, really),” by NJ 101.5’s David Matthau: “It’s an exclusive new club that most New Jersey residents, even the most rich and famous, will never have the opportunity to join. The 218 Club, with a grand total of 16 members, is made up of first-time Assembly representatives — Democrats and Republicans. Assemblyman Roy Freiman D-Somerset, started the club because he ‘wanted to get together with the freshmen Assembly people just so we could get to know each other on a first-name basis just to build relationships.’” Read the report

—“McCann poll has Gottheimer ahead by 9 points” Read the report

—“These nuns want to tell Trump a thing or two” Read the report

—“Tropicana becomes 7th Atlantic City casino to get sports betting” Read the report

—”Interactive map: ICE arrests of immigrants in NJ — Essex County in nation’s top 10” See the map

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SHAMNESTY — “Lakewood school board member who got amnesty faces call for resignation,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Stacey Barchenger: “Business as usual was interrupted at a Wednesday night school board meeting by a district employee who called for board member Moshe S. Newhouse to resign. Melinda Murray, a public school bus aide who has been critical of some of the district’s recent decisions revamping its transportation structure, stood up for her turn at the microphone during public comment. ‘You, Mr. Moshe, don’t belong here,’ Murray said from the podium, pointing toward board member Moshe S. Newhouse. ‘You should not be making decisions for the children or the employees. You should resign.’ Scattered applause from the few dozen people in the audience followed. Newhouse is a first-term board member who, the Asbury Park Press reported last week, had negotiated a secret deal to repay $24,000 in Medicaid benefits he improperly received as part of a state-offered amnesty program last year. Board attorney Michael Inzelbuch stepped in and said he would not discuss Newhouse’s position. Newhouse later declined to say if he would resign as he left the high school commons where the Board of Education meets.” Read the report

DAM AC — “Dutch flood control expert has tough love for Atlantic City,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Michelle Brunetti Post: “Dutch flood control expert Edgar J. Westerhof stood in front of hundreds of floodplain managers at Bally’s Atlantic City on Wednesday and showed an aerial photo of an intensely developed Atlantic City, from the ocean to the bay. ‘Is this a coastal calamity in slow motion?’ he asked the crowd attending the 14th annual conference of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management … In the face of rising sea levels and more frequent storms, such complete development of barrier islands is unsustainable, said the North America flood risk and resilience lead of Arcadis, the consultancy and design firm that is working with New York City on the East Side Coastal Resiliency plan. Hurricane Sandy caused $19 billion in damage just in Manhattan, according to Arcadis. ‘The future of this area is about tough decisions,’ Westerhof said of Atlantic City, as coastal areas adjust to an expected 4-foot to 8-foot sea-level rise by 2100, and to regular nuisance flooding at every high tide by about 2030. ‘This is not going to be a pleasure cruise.’” Read the report

PEN15 CLUB — “Prankster sent mayor penis-shaped candy. Cops were asked to investigate,” by NJ Advance Media’s Olivia R. Rizzo: “Someone thought it was a good idea to send the mayor of Hamilton Township a bag of penis-shaped candy as a prank. Mayor Kelly Yeade received a package of penis-shaped candy, sent through the website Dysfunctional Veterans, last week … Yaede’s office received the candy last week, when the mayor wasn’t in the office. ‘My staff intercepted it and then asked the Hamilton Township police department to find out the origin of the package,’ Yaede told NJ Advance Media. “When I was alerted to it I didn’t give it a second thought, and laughed it off.” Dysfunctional Veterans made a post on their Facebook page about the police investigation including a screen shot of an email they received from the Hamilton Township Police Department, requesting to speak to someone at the company about the purchase. Yaede then put an end to the brief investigation and said that there is no active investigation looking into who sent the candy. ‘It was a prank and that’s all I took it was,’ Yaede said.” Read the report

—Hudson County boosts minimum wage to $15 for some workers Read the report

—“Morris County sues ex-insurance broker for fraud, deception” Read the report

—“Can Atlantic City’s ‘dead zone’ be transformed into a millennial hotspot?” Read the report

—“Trenton mayor Reed Gusciora delivers first State of the City address” Read the report

—“Carol Russell set to become Trenton’s first black female police director” Read the report

—“Trenton labor union may file complaint against council” Read the report

—Edelstein: When posting stupid or racist things to Facebook, here’s a tip: Don’t” Read the column

—“Camden’s mayor declares ‘war on graffiti’” Read the report

—“Negotiating a lower number of units, Allendale to settle affordable housing obligation” Read the report

—“Another Rockaway Township meeting deemed invalid” Read the report

—“Jersey City agency awards consultant contract to ex-deputy mayor” Read the report

HIGHER ED — “Students are staging a major protest at Seton Hall, demanding funding for diversity,” by NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark: “Demanding better treatment for minority students and adequate funding for courses on diversity, dozens of students at Seton Hall University are in the midst of a three-day sit-in at the administration building. The students marched into President’s Hall on Wednesday toting signs and chanting ‘If we don’t get it, shut it down,’ according to photos and video posted on social media. The group, using the name Concerned 44, has organized a five-day protest across the Catholic university’s South Orange campus.” Read the report

#METOO — “48 women accused doctor of sexual misconduct. Jurors, judge toss all charges,” by NJ Advance Media’s Rebecca Everett: “Attorney Neal Wiesner said he knows what a person’s gut reaction is to hearing that a man has been accused of sexual misconduct by 48 women. The average person is going to assume that with that number of accusers, something inappropriate must have taken place, he said. But his client, Syed A, Jaffery, a medical doctor in Atlantic County who was charged with such crimes in 2014 and 2015, is innocent, Wiesner said Wednesday. Jurors at a 2016 trial acquitted him on some counts, Wiesner said, and another jury in March acquitted him of all but three counts before them, on which they were deadlocked. Then in June, Atlantic County Judge Bernard Delury Jr. dismissed all remaining counts. While the sexual misconduct charges are no more, Jaffery is facing sentencing after pleading guilty to corporate misconduct in May, according to the court.” Read the report

ICE-T NO SYMPATHY — “Ice-T in hot water: charged with not paying GWB toll,” by The Record’s Keldy Ortiz: “Ice-T was arrested Wednesday on charges he evaded the toll at the George Washington Bridge, authorities and reports said. The 60-year-old rap artist and actor, whose real name is Tracy Lauren Marrow, was going through the E-ZPass at about 6:56 a.m., a Port Authority Police spokeswoman said. Marrow was pulled over after he failed to pay the toll and was issued a summons for not having plates and registration, authorities said. The ‘Law & Order: SVU’ actor also faces theft of services charges, the spokeswoman said. He was released on his own recognizance.” Read the report

WEATHER — “Nor’easter update: Gusts of 50-plus at Shore, tidal flooding, power outages all possible,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Anthony R. Wood: “Computer models remain in agreement that the first nor’easter of the cool season will begin affecting the region Friday night, continuing into Saturday. It will be a rough period for the Jersey Shore, Paul Walker, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said Thursday, with onshore wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph possible. In addition, astronomical tides would be a bit higher than usual giving that while the moon will be waning, it still will be near full. The National Weather Service says moderate tidal flooding is possible.” Read the report

—“Watergate witness John Dean to speak at Monmouth University” Read the report