Politics & Government

Buono: 'The American Dream is Broken in New Jersey'

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state senator Barbara Buono meets with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 in Manalapan Tuesday.

By: Edward Van Embden

As Gov. Chris Christie continues to make pit stops at towns along the Jersey Shore, collecting Democratic endorsements for his reelection campaign like trophies along the way, challenger Barbara Buono said she’s hitting the streets, talking to residents about the real issues facing the state.

At a campaign stop at union shop Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 in Manalapan Tuesday, Buono, a Democratic state senator representing the 18th District, accused Christie of ducking New Jersey’s real issues and cloaking himself in public post-Hurricane Sandy good will.

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While she trails Christie significantly in all recent polls—Buono attributes much of the discrepancy to her current lack of name recognition and an election that’s still months away—Buono is confident she’s winning voters over at a micro level.

Now she’s trying to make the leap.

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“They need to know that there’s an alternative, and that is what our task is, that’s what our challenge is,” Buono said when asked how best to mobilize the state’s middle and working class residents. “That people know who Barbara Buono is and that I get what they’re going through.”

Despite New Jersey’s still high unemployment rate and the growing tax rates facing middle class residents, Christie has only seen his popularity grow following Sandy’s arrival in New Jersey at the end of October. In Point Pleasant Borough Monday morning, where he had arrived to accept his 30th endorsement from a Democratic official, this time Mayor Bill Schroeder, Christie touted the ongoing recovery of the Jersey Shore and its coastal communities.

During his address to more than 100 cheering, sign-waving supporters, Christie promised summer campaign stops in Ocean, Monmouth, Cape May and Atlantic counties, all of which were significantly impacted by Sandy.     

Buono said Christie’s campaign strategy ignores much of New Jersey and its nearly 9 million residents. As a resident who overcame challenges similar to those facing much of the state’s working poor—Buono said she put herself through college and law school and relied on food stamps for a time—her message is one of hope and prosperity for a majority of residents, she said.

“We talk about my vision and what’s on their minds and it resonates,” she said. “People get excited. They say, ‘whoa, you know, I know there’s an alternative to this governor (Christie).' ”

When it comes to endorsements and polling deficits, Buono said she’s hopeful that the issues will prevail. She said she’s been campaigning since February and the people she’s met along the trail are savvy, aware of the issues and aware of who’s best to represent them. 

It's clear, she said, that person isn't Christie. 


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