John Inglesino

The controversy surrounding U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie's selection of John Ashcroft for a lucrative federal monitor position may have roiled Democrats, but it hasn't changed Republicans' feelings about their would-be gubernatorial nominee.

That's not to say that Christie has come out and announced he's running for governor. In fact, he consistently blows off speculation about a potential run, saying that members of the media obsess about it more than he does.

That may be true. But members of the Republican Party obsess about it too, and the revelation about him giving his former boss a hefty paycheck hasn't dampened the establishment's enthusiasm for Christie as their nominee in 2009 - should he choose to run, of course. The election may be two years away, but all signs point to vast Republican support for a Christie candidacy.

Following his stunning loss Tuesday night, Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino acknowledged today he could have campaigned harder in his re-election bid and might have benefited from altering his campaign strategy. But he said the main reason he failed to win re-election was his position on the ballot --fourth down out of four candidates competing for three seats.

Jim Murray spent 35 years as an engineer employed by Morris CountyJames Murray, a 68-year-old retired engineer from Chester Township, chewed into the usually sedate scenery of Morris County politics Tuesday when he upset Freeholder John Inglesino, stunning the political establishment and two other Freeholders.

Murray says his “message” propelled him to victory -- but he spent less than $5,000 on his campaign, and there was no obvious reason why Inglesino would find himself in trouble with Republican primary voters that have re-elected him twice by considerable pluralities.

Some Republicans have even wondered if there was a hiccup in the electronic voting machines – something the county’s top election official denies.