Response by Rick Thigpen

The Kerry campaign has left the door open for Bush in New Jersey. Despite a state that believes Bush has put America on the wrong track, that Bush has poorly handled the economy, and that he has misled America into a failing military effort in Iraq, the President is running neck and neck with a Democratic candidate in a state that has gone Democratic in the last three Presidential elections and the last three statewide elections. One factor is Bush is showing surprising strength with independents. There is some evidence suggesting that independents with an unfavorable view of McGreevey may be leaning to Bush. The Kerry campaign just has to get voters to vote on the economy and on the war. If they do that, they will win New Jersey and they will probably win nationally.

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.