Response by Rick Thigpen

The conservative vote seems to be in charge in the Republican primary. Accordingly, the conservative wing's candidate from four years ago, Bret Schundler, is clearly the man to beat as the gubernatorial contest begins to heat up. To this point, it looks like only Doug Forrester is capable of even competing with Schundler. At the heart of this primary battle: the contest for conservative voters.

Will the same primary election winner produce a different general election result four years later? Was the 10 point improvement by George Bush in New Jersey last November a reason for optimism for conservative candidates in New Jersey? Can New Jersey's more moderate Republicans match the success of George Bush’s winning votes in the Latino community? I don't know, but I sure am looking forward to finding out.

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Academic Associate, Rick Thigpen (J.D., Columbia University Law School). Rick is a former Executive Director of the New Jersey Democratic Party and now a partner in The Strategy Group and is a campaign coordinator for the Essex County Democratic Party. Rick Thigpen, Esq. can be reached at (609) 394-0888.