The numbers are pretty good for a New Jersey governor heading full tilt into an unprecedented budget crisis. He is going to need some of that good will to get through the budget season.

242

What Forrester really needed was for them to make the declarative ruling and shut the door. It's sucking the air out of the room in the Forrester campaign.

235

The party line is the cue for most rank-and-file voters at the local level. Let's face it: Most voters don't follow politics on a day-to-day basis so many are going to follow the party organization.

232

Not only is it early in the election cycle, but neither of these candidates has ever mounted a statewide race. Both will have to introduce themselves to voters around the state.

210

Raising the gas tax will take some explaining. In a state where people have seen their property taxes rise sharply, they have become sensitive to other taxes as well.

202

I understand they have the discretion to make a declaratory ruling, but they chose not to make this definitive. By choosing not to make a definitive ruling, that means the door's still open in the legal process and the issue drags on in the governor's campaign.

179

That is Forrester's issue. If he can't win on that question, I don't see how he can win.

174

That is the power of incumbency, to get on the daily news because you are the office-holder.

136

One month ago, people were on the fence. A month later, people are off the fence and forming hard opinions. A month ago, people were waiting to see what the governor would do. Now they've seen some of it and their initial reaction is negative.

120