What were the Best & Worst Campaigns of 2007?

I dont like him too much but you gotta' hand it to Jeff Van Drew. He handidly defeated Nick Asselta and his coattails pulled a weak incumbant and a a new comer. 

Also Jim Whelan won in a year that Democrats in Atlantic County lost.

Also have to give credit to Dennis Levenson he virtually crushed Jim McGettigan-who had enjoyed plenty of name recognition and past electoral history.

I like Albano. He is a good guy, but he is not that impressive. I have seen and met him at numerous functions and without Van Drew he is unimpressive.  I often hear stories about him being crude and vulgar at inappropriate times (from unrelated sources).  He is a solid democratic vote, which is great in my book, but I doubt that he will ever develop into a leader in the state-house. Without Van Drew, Albano would a) not have won in 05 and b) had serious trouble in 07.  Albano as his own man is unimpressive and he alone could not carry his elections (A bit too socially and politically unsophisticated). Albano did not ad to the ticket in 07, and without Jeff leading the way I doubt that Albano can lead the ticket in 09. I would bet that over the years if he and Milam remain in the Assembly, Milam takes over in the leadership role.

While Albano is certainly not as charismatic and impressive as Van Drew, I challenge you to find many who are. Anyone, when compared with Van Drew, is going to look prosaic. But what Albano lacks in polish and style, he makes up in work ethic and heart. I have had the occasion to work with him a couple times and I have never met anyone who is more eager to help people. The man has an incredible heart of gold. Even before he lost his son to a drunk driver, he was part of the Gabriel Project, which takes in sick children from over seas who need life saving surgeries that can only be performed here in the U.S.

Albano is a labor guy and few labor guys have real polish. Most are crude, regular guys. Look at Steve Sweeney. But just because he is not Van Drew or Lou Greenwald does not mean he can't carry his ticket in '09. One of the best rising stars in the GOP in the First is Michael Donohue, who now has a loss around his neck. Running without Van Drew will certainly be hard, but I wouldn't count Albano and Milam out.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
- Edmund Burke

Okay, here’s mine: 

Worst:   On local side “Dr.” Robert Kleinberg of Marlboro in his bid for re-election as mayor (which he lost by almost 20 points).  Tip for any incumbents…if you’re running for re-election don’t claim that you have the endorsement of the most vocal advocate of GRIP. 

On the state side, a tie for 12th district candidates Ellen Karcher & Jen Beck.  Both women, who are otherwise hard-working and articulate, relegated their respective campaigns to mere “finger pointing” and “name calling.”  In the Mercutian vein I say a plague on both of their houses.   

Best:     

On the local side, I’ve give it to Monmouth Freeholder candidate John D’Amico on the Dem side and Hamilton mayoral candidate John Bencivengo on the GOP side.  D’Amico one the most votes for Freeholder, even while most other candidates Dem candidate running in Monmouth were clobbered.  And Bencivengo won an upset in a once “blue” township, while also defeated a one-day gubernatorial hopeful. 

On the stateside for Dems Norcr….err I mean Van Drew and Whelan.  These are not typically Democratic seats and both won easily.  A runner up would be Jen Beck’s other campaign (not her personal campaign, but the one conducted by the APP)

The column is tagged "Bob McHugh", yet there's no mention of McHugh in the column.

Nice touch.

Maybe the column should be titled "What Were the Best & Bob McHugh Campaigns of 2007?"

Phil Morin couldn't fight a poopbag fire.  If it wasn't for the ironclad hold on the 21st LD, the Union County GOP would be a quilting bee.

Jim Murray up in Morris County should be on the best list, he spent $1000 and upset a sitting freeholder in the primary and was the top votegetter in the general.  He should be right up there on the top.

The Union County GOP Freeholder ticket should be on the worst list.  One candidate (Reilly) didn't campaign, another (Quattrocci) ran her 4th losing race, and the last (Russamano) didn't have a clue.  The Union GOP runs bad campaigns, offers no actual plan and runs the same woman every year. 

Guy Gregg's Senate campaign should be on the worst list.

Seema Singh is a natrual choice for the worst list.

Brian Stack should be on the best list.

Garrett Smith, the Mayor of Roselle, should be on the best list.  He beat back the Democratic machine for the second election to win the primary.

Jun Choi should be on the best list for beating back the Democratic machine in the Council primary and the November referendum.

Never took the challenge seriously until it was way too late. He didnt even have a campaign most of the time.

It's really a shame he's gone though, was a really intelligent legislator. I find it hilarious Oroho ran to the right of him, I didn't think that was possible..

Greenstein was able to bring in her running mate DeAngelo despite Common Sense America dropping what has been reported to be $500,000 two weeks before election day against them.

Gilmore was of no help to the Democratic Assembly candidates.

The Democrats had an excellent team of media people working on the campaign including Liz Meyers despite an earlier comment to the contrary.  At the very least she was better than the Republican press person.

The Republican win in Hamilton and Baroni lack of coat-tails showed the strenght of the 14th District Democratic Assembly candidates.