Wednesday, March 27, 2013

SRB & GOP - A Surmise


Somebody floated the notion that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, newly rejected by the Regular Democratic Organization for the party line in the June 4 primary, could make her third-term run as a Republican.

Consider the possibilities: Plainfield Republicans seldom have a primary contest, so she would be guaranteed a place on the November 5 ballot if unopposed in the primary. She would be part of a slate with a popular governor at the top and a local young notable, John Campbell Jr., running for Assembly. The scion of “Kingmaker” John Campbell would enjoy all his father’s political wile in getting out the vote and maybe some “athletic  fit”  coattails for the mayor to ride in addition to Christie’s mega-threads.  She would also be returning to her GOP roots, with maybe some aid from her old NAACP /Republican running buddy George Gore.

Of course, if a GOP mayoral challenger emerged on April 1, her supporters would have to change parties by April 10 in order to vote for her in the primary. If not, they could remain Democrats, abstain from the primary and vote for her in the general election. And instead of maybe being a lame duck from June 4 on, she would have five more months to marshal her troops and fill her coffers for the big match on Nov. 5.

Drawbacks for a GOP run include the city’s 12-to-1 ratio of registered Democrats to Republicans and the RDO determination to back a slate from Sen. Barbara Buono on down the line. This is also the year for Democrats to reorganize, with 68 committee seats on the ballot and a party chairmanship to decide. Would even her most loyal supporters want to go to the dark side and give up all those RDO perks such as county jobs, contracts, appointments and other political privileges?

A successful switch also assumes a welcome from GOP party leaders on local, county and state levels. But if  the possibility exists, what will the mayor choose, fight or flight?

We’ll see on Monday.

--Bernice

6 comments:

  1. Would even her most loyal supporters want to go to the dark side and give up all those RDO perks such as county jobs, contracts, appointments and other political privileges?

    --- Perish the thought that greasing the palm is half the reason for their success in local politics..why that's be horribly Republican of them all now wouldn't it??

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  2. Surely a party of Campbell, Briggs, Palin and Bachmann must have more answers than a party of Green, Briggs, Corzine and Jackson Jr.

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  3. Pat Turner KavanaughMarch 27, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    You'r kidding, right? April Fool's Day is still to come. Sandy Spector, where are you when we need you?

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  4. Many people forget that Sharon was a Republican before she switched to Democrat so she could run for mayor. My concern is that she is so out of touch with the real world that she thinks she is liked by a majority of the voters. SHE IS REVILED BY MANY OF HER PAST SUPPORTERS! Whether a Republican or Independent Sharon has an up-hill battle and a need to get real with herself.

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  5. Those who vote for Sharon for mayor do so because of being friends, not because they care about Plainfield.

    That is the problem here. No one considers qualifications. If they did, they would look at Plainfield's budget, the lack of economic development, and how she has taken money from taxpayers for her own gain. Shame on them.

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  6. Aside from the Campbells and George Gore, I cannot imagine many local Republicans supporting her!

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