David Murray

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is seriously considering bid for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2009 – although some GOP leaders seem skeptical of his intentions after his on again, off again bid for the United States Senate last spring.  But if Crowley runs, he could make a move for votes in the base of his likely rival, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.  Sources say that Morris County Freeholder John Murphy, an old-time Christie foe who ran for Governor in 2005, has told some friends that he might be for Crowley.

Assemblyman Guy Gregg is now telling supporters that he has decided to challenge longtime incumbent Robert Littell in the June Republican primary for State Senate in the 24th district. Gregg has hired political consultant David Murray, who has worked for many GOP legislators over the last 25 years.

The 70-year-old Littell, who has had major health issues in recent years, has been in the Legislature since 1967; he moved up to the Senate in 1990. Gregg, 57, one the Legislature's leading conservatives, has served in the Assembly since 1994.

But some Republican insiders say that Gregg could still change his mind: in 2002, he dropped his U.S. Senate bid just hours before the filing deadline.

PoliticsNJ.com reported last week that Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce used Assembly Republican Victory money to pay for a mailing on the state budget into his GOP-safe 26th district -- based on the disclaimer used on the mail piece. But DeCroce's consultant, David Murray, provided copies of checks demonstrating that the Election Fund of Alex DeCroce paid for the mail, despite a disclaimer that said it was paid for by the leadership PAC. "I made a mistake and erroneously placed the SRM/ARV disclaimer on Alex's third mailer," Murray wrote.