Working both sides of the Hudson River

So, he's managed Paul DiGaetano, who was a non-issue in the GOP primary, Howard Mills, whose candidacy was perfunctory at best, and now a candidate who has stumbled out of the gates and is going to lose by 25 points. Now he's in the middle of a fight that's going to split in half an organization that's already well past its prime.

Some record he's compiled there. I guess there's a reason he hasn't been on the last two Best Operatives list...

The "Bergen Broil"is a microcosm of the feeble effort produced by New Jersey Republicans at-large. We are mired in inter-fighting based on old loyalty, egos and clash of ideas. We are primed to be wiped off the Jersey political map. Especially coming out of the gate at least 500,000 votes behind the 8-ball. It is time we put up candidates that are A+ most electable whose message is small government, lower taxes and personal responsibility which smack directly in the face of special interest(unions), "entitlement people"(welfare) and those that don't adhere to strict constitutionalism(liberals)! Collins should be attacking those people that claim Corzine(because of his Wallstreet experience) is attending to the "general public" as though they were his shareholders. That is pure bunk, taxpayers have a financial stake like shareholders not the "general public"

I love wanna-be insiders critizing Kevin Collin's record. Yeah, these are the same people who think it is OK to donate to Charley Rangel. Haha, the self-appointed experts want to attack Collins, who maintained Paul's seat even as demographics hit him hard. And Howard Mills? You want to attack Kevin for the Howard Mills race? If you are critizing Collins on that then you really are out of touch with reality. Spencer? Listen, RINO, there is a reason why Spencer *is* the frontrunner and Pirro is running for AG.

You RINOs make me laugh. You think you know something don't you?? Well let's see how your record stacks up v.s. Collin's:

Tell me, RINO, where were your sing voters when Mola and his little hat ran? Where were they during Doug Pt I and Doug Pt II--when everyone swore themselves blue that Doug was the man because he appealed to swing voters? Where were your swing voters during Kelly Kirk and Mike "Little Bullhorn" Kaplan's race? We need to moderate? Yeah look how well that one has worked so far.

RINO sell-outs, you are not wanted here. You'd have better luck at the BCDO, or maybe a massage parlor.

The fact that you're calling me a RINO is amusing. I'm as much of a Republican as Steve Lonegan is a Democrat.

Regardless, yes, it's fair to criticize Collins for Howard Mills. He never had a chance against Chuck Schumer, but he didn't even bother to run a creditable campaign. Mills's name recognition was zero, his free media exposure was zero, his campaign was widely treated as a joke. Many have done much more with far fewer resources than Collins did with Howard Mills. And as for Pirro...she was done in by the fact that she was an awful candidate who kept on screwing up. Spencer had nothing to do with that, and it should be a strong indication how enthusiastic the New York GOP is about Spencer's candidacy that they're now in the middle of recruiting an eighth-choice candidate rather than nominate Collins's client. Again, fine, fine work.

As for the rest of your diatribe--of course, yours is the party of inclusion, correct? Actually, more inwards-looking ideologues like yourself would be the best possible thing for my party. We'll continue laughing all the way to the victory parties while you continue to marginalize your party. But hey, the 22% support you'll end up with are the true believers!

When did DiGaetano actually have a chance???

Now we see that DiGaetano and arch enemy, Steve Lonegan are working together and making endorsements???

Is Collins finding new ways to actually earn a living???

Kevin

learn to grow a real mustache and goatee

stop using so much dye

Wow Bergenintheknow -- so much hate, so much hate. Let it go!

As for shoretoplease I guess you must be Karl Rove becuase you know how statewide campaigns everywhere work. How do you even have time to be here.

Wow-- looks like Kevin brings out the crazies huh?

Collins is a good operative. He's Smart, creative and schrewd. I've always had a lot of respect for his talent. Like him or not, he is good at what he does.

With that said, he's also vendictive, morally bankrupt and as much skill as he brings to any campaign, his abrasive and obnoxious interpersonal tendencies often wind up being a detriment to the very cause he is fighting for.

As far as why he's so involved in Bergen all of a sudden, simply put, he has no where else to go. He's on the verge of being politcally irrelevant and sees this as his chance to stay in the game.

He has been burning bridges in NJ since 1999 and is hated by fellow Republicans throughout the state. Don't believe me? Ask any Republican working for the senate or assembly GOP office what they think of Collins.

Unfortunately for DiGaetano, Lonegan and Collins -- the Donovan ticket will win the primary with relative ease.

The question is -- where does he go from there?

In fairness to this guy, underdogs are entitled to have strategists as well. And losing a race (primary or general) can still a candidate exposure and could potentially mean some kind of reward down the line. Frankly, most of these guys are either looking to advance a particular agenda or seek future rewards for their sacrifices. After his unsuccessful U.S. Senate race, Howard Mills (a former state assemblyman) was appointed the New York state Insurance Commissioner. Also, (former Assembly GOP leader) Paul DiGaetano is a possible front-runner for a state Senate seat in an entirely different district. And let's also not forget, this guy was repeatedly re-elected in an overwhelmingly Democrat district prior to his retirement. I think strategists like Collins serve a purpose other than simply winning elections.

I think this is the longest comment section ever on politics nj.. Imagine that.. Kevin Collins. Too funny, I bet he is loving this.

Yup and The Torricelli/Marcus/Donovan Team has already made a deal with the devil -- Joe F and the Dems

That moral compass sure don't point north.

Donovans cheap stunt using homeless people with cheap hats
and a baldy failed freeholder candidate with a blow horn
may have left its mark. The shutting down of the BCRO website
however was an own goal.

This stuff is directly out of the DNC handbook.

Did anyone notice that Todds supporters were the best dressed and best behaved in the room ??

Tis indeed time for the ADULTS to take over the Party

Go for it Kevin -- it's about time you brought Marcus down, where he belongs. He's had the same strategy and the same shoes for the last 20 years. At least Talarico is honest.