Middlesex Republicans endorse Pennacchio for Senate, Cumberland County punts

"Meanwhile, the Cumberland County Republican Party, which held a convention today, decided to defer its endorsement for a Senate candidate until members have a better idea of exactly who’s running." I think they want to know who else is on vacation?

I was standing next to Sabrin when he was approached by the County GOP representative, and told that they "didn't receive his letter", which would have enabled him to speak. This occurred at the last minute, after Sabrin had been in attendance for over an hour - I find it hard to believe that Sabrin didn't file to speak.

I also witnessed his people working to obtain the necessary signatures, and in all cases, they were not only up front about what they were circulating, but were also wearing Sabrin campaign buttons! I saw no violation of the rules, and I think it's a testament to his supporters that they were able to pull the signatures together in the short time they had. If there was any nefarious action here, I tend to believe it was on the part of the MCRO.

I agree with you though, in regard to the press releases from Sabrin's people (and I do note that these are from his people, and not directly from Sabrin himself, though ultimately he IS responsible). I don't feel that the rhetoric of the campaign staff mirrors the demeanor of the candidate himself. I've found Dr. Sabrin to conduct himself in a very composed and dignified manner on the occasions that I've had to meet and speak with him.

Tom Wilson's pathetic attempts to bring these unvetted, untested, unknown alternatives, like Unanue and Crowley to the front have backfired.  Looks like people are coming home to Jersey Joe.

I was there also and I witnessed his campaign being upfront with people when getting the signatures. It was a last minute problem and a solution was given as a choice to rectify the situation. No violation was committed.

One thing I did witness however was Penn's crew making a big ruckus talking loud and filing out of the room as people were trying to listen to what Murray had to say. That was rude. I made a mental note of it. Anyone with that much audacity, whether it was him or those sticking close by him, is not on my favorites list. Those people should be ashamed of themselves. They acted like spoiled children.

I never said who I supported in that post...I just said in a round about way that I wanted to hear what EVERYONE had to say like the majority of those who attended. Secondly, how one acts in public is a preview and not once did I see any of Murray's supporters out of line as such. I see a lot of bashing here but with little backing or respect for either candidate. That in itself is not only futile but classless as you would understand. I gave backing by stating the details of a personal experience. The adjective matches the behavior not the person. Maybe you read into that too much. I personally do not like Penn and I truely do not agree with what I saw today but I'm not calling him names as some of the names I've seen Murrays been called. Just because the man is stirring things up doesn't give anyone the right to flame. Remember, those in glass houses should not throw stones.

There's that paranoia among Sabrinistas coming out again.  There was nothing "nefarious" going on with the MCRO.  The convention started at 10:15 and Sabrin's people were getting signatures to allow him to participate by 9:15, when I arrived there and was asked to sign a yellow sheet of paper on a legal pad with nothing written on top of it.  So no, Murray was not told anything at "the last minute."

Furthermore, I think it's a testament to the fairness of the convention's participants that Sabrin was able to get the required 60 signatures because he received far less than 60 votes.  Clearly, people signed the petition with no intention to vote for him solely because they believe in the process and that everyone should get a fair chance to speak on their own behalf.  Kudos to the MCRO!

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson

I'll have to contest your point about "paranoia" - and I'll agree with your timeline, that Sabrin's people were given roughly an hour to collect signatures and fork over money, in order for him to be allowed to speak.

However, my point was, I find it odd that on the home turf of Pennacchio, the MCRO leadership tells Sabrin an hour before the start of the convention that they "didn't receive" his paperwork, and that he wouldn't be allowed to address the convention without jumping through last minute hoops. I could certainly be wrong, but I very much doubt that the Sabrin campaign forgot or failed to file the paperwork that would allow him to speak at a convention, which they had planned to attend for at least several weeks.

This type of antic serves to confirm for me the general antics that we've witnessed the NJGOP undertaking over the past several weeks. The leadership seems determined to deny Sabrin any chance in this race, and it's just not clear to me why - this process began well before any of the inflammatory, yet very informative press releases from the Sabrin campaign (the tone of which also turns me off, by the way).

Sabrin's stand on the ISSUES certainly seems to me to be more in line with the traditional GOP values than those voiced by Pennacchio, or the non-positions of Estabrook, Unanue, and potentially Crowley. I don't mean to lump Crowley in prematurely, but he fits the pattern so far...

The paranoia is in your questions. . .  "Why didn't the Chairman tell us how to make the petition. . .  why didn't they tell Murray that they never received paperwork, etc."

There's no responsibilty on Murray's part to contact people and follow-up on things or to ask about the rules.  It's everyone else's fault.

Finally, Pennacchio is from Morris County, northern Morris at that, so Middlesex is most certainly not Pennacchio's "home turf."  But again, you try to downgrade the opponent by making that false claim, as if his win had nothing to do with his message and everything to do with his locality.  If that's the case, shouldn't Murray have won Bergen County?  Hmmmmmm. . . 

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson

I don't see how it's paranoia - I was making statements based directly on my observations, which I don't think are irrational.

I have seen that Sabrin has been in the race for some time now, and for whatever reason, the GOP leadership seems willing to do anything BUT consider getting behind him, despite the fact that he would appear to represent what they say they stand for better than any of the other contenders.

I saw that Sabrin was at the MCRO Convention yesterday for over an hour before any of the County leaders told him that he wasn't going to be allowed to speak.

I've heard many people mention that "he can't bring the money", yet from all indications, Sabrin is the ONLY GOP contender for U.S. Senate who has had any kind of action in the realm of public donations - and this is entirely without GOP establishment backing.

Yet, again and again, we witness the NJGOP chasing after these individuals of the big checkbooks and questionable merit.

If that's how you define paranoia, then I guess you've got me...   

Why don't people tell Murray how to run an election?

Why don't people tell Murray how politics 101 works?

There were tons of candidates at that convention. Six or seven from the 7th congressional alone. Many new to politics completely. How come they knew what the Sabrin team didn't? Don't blame incompetence and sloppiness on anyone but yourselves. Your running for US Senate not Freshman Class President in high school.

Fact - the petitions circulated didn't have the reason for the petition on them.

Fact - I was approached by some one who totally skewed the truth when requesting me to sign the petition.

Not sure where you were? Did you see the petitions?

Murray was there? Did he see his own petitions?