Back in July I wrote that I probably was going to vote for Democrat Jon Corzine for Governor in New Jersey, and that he probably would lose, making me a red state voter turning blue in a blue state turning red. But a funny thing happened on the way to November — the race tightened up.
(I planned to upload a graph showing the tightening survey results, but the @#$^& WordPress upload function isn’t working, again. The troubleshooting tips start with “reinstall WordPress”, and the reinstall process starts with the instruction to back up your database and files, along with a link to the handy 27-step backup process. Not today. So: imagine a red line well above a blue line at the left of the graph, converging into a red/blue/red/blue dance at the right. Or I suppose you could look at the actual graph at Real Clear Politics.)
Where was I?
Republican Chris Christie lost his chance at my vote when he pledged to veto any legislation enabling same-sex marriage, and to support a state constitutional amendment to the same end. But it’s one thing to cast a protest vote for the Democrat in what looks to be a lopsided race. When I realized my vote actually might be meaningful, I had to take another look.
Ex-prosecutor Christie pledges tax cuts and clean government in a corrupt, high-tax state, and I’ll count that as a silver lining if he wins. But there’s no guarantee he would actually be effective at cutting taxes and fighting corruption, whereas he undoubtedly would follow through on his anti-gay veto threat.
Republicans apparently will sweep the races in Virginia, New York City and NY-23, and a GOP victory in New Jersey would add to the perception of an anti-Obamanomics backlash. Another silver lining, if it happens. But I reluctantly hope Corzine wins, and I did my part today.