With the 2009 gubernatorial field still far from settled, the majority of Republican county chairs PolitickerNJ spoke to today refused to commit absolutely to anyone, though many said they leaned toward Christie.
Monmouth County Republican Chairman Joe Oxley would not formally endorse Christie before he even entered the race, but said he was hopeful that he would jump in.
“At this point I think that clearly everybody’s anticipating, hoping and expecting that Chris may very well enter the race. I certainly can tell you he’s a personal friend, and I think he’s got broad support in Monmouth County,” he said.
Mercer County Chairman Roy Wesley may be expected to back biotech executive John Crowley, who’s from Princeton, if he enters the race. But right now, Wesley said, he’s “leaning toward” either former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie or Crowley.
“I have an open mind as to who it’s going to be, but we want someone who can win,” he said.
Union County Chairman Phil Morin said that he’s personally leaning toward Christie, and that members of his committee seem to be as well.
“We’re all kind of waiting with anticipation to see whether Chris Christie does jump into this race. I’ve been getting a lot of questions from the leadership in Union County about whether I’ve heard anything about Christie, whether he’s running,” he said. “My sense is there are a lot of people at the rank and file level as well as elected officials who would love to see Chris Christie jump into this race.”
Salem County Chairman Paul Reed also said he is leaning toward Christie.
Several other chairmen were more cautious about even hinting at who they will support.
In Bergen County, Chairman Bob Yudin faces a tough choice. He likes all the candidates, he said, although only one – Steve Lonegan – is from Bergen County.
“In my case it’s a little more difficult, because in politics there’s a saying: support the hometown guy. But I will make my decision based on who has the best chance to win in November,” he said.
Yudin stressed that he will make a personal recommendation to the county committee, but if their decision runs counter to his, he will support their choice, as opposed to the U.S. Senate race. Yudin partly based his campaign for chair on anger at then-chairman Rob Ortiz for recruiting his friend Andy Unanue to run for the Republican nomination – after the Bergen County Republican Organization had endorsed state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville).
Joe Leo, who chairs the Middlesex County Republicans, would not even hint at a favorite. He noted that Crowley works with two operatives who are either from or who have campaigned in Middlesex County – Matt Mowers and Bill Spadea – and that Levine got his political start in Middlesex.
“I don’t have any concerns with any of them,” he said, adding that he won’t make an endorsement until after the county has its screening process.
Cape May Chairman David Von Savage said he would not even think of making a personal endorsement until early next year, and that his choice will be “the candidate who runs a reformist campaign that focuses on the budget and spending in a serious, specific way that has credibility.”
Although he’s in no rush to support anyone, Von Savage said that it’s important that the party move on quickly once the primary fight is resolved.
In Gloucester County, Chairwoman Loran Oglesby said she has no preference yet.
In Atlantic County, Chairman Keith Davis would not endorse anyone, but laid out some gripes he has with Lonegan, who last year as head of Americans for Prosperity attacked former Republican state Sen. Nicholas Asselta for his pro paid family leave stance.
But even if the reception from county chairs proves unwelcoming, Lonegan does not intend to file any alternate slates, as former U.S. Senate candidate Murray Sabrin did earlier this year.
“We’re planning on competing in every convention and working to win every line. That’s our focus,” said Lonegan Campaign Chairman Hank Butehorn.
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