Candidates for state and local offices crossed their fingers yesterday, hoping that their supporters would make it to the polls despite wet and gloomy November weather. On campus, members of P-Votes and other politically active students encouraged their peers to vote with the help of free hot chocolate.
Now that Election Day is over, politicos across the state have turned their attention to the presidential primaries, scheduled for "Super Tuesday" — Feb. 5. The state Senate voted last December to shift the primary from June to the first Tuesday in February, boosting the Garden State's potential influence in selecting the 2008 presidential candidates.
Republicans are especially enthused with the prospect of increased conservatism in a traditionally Democratic state.
"New Jersey is much more in play now than it has been historically," College Republicans president Jon Fernandez '08 said.
If the results of yesterday's elections reflect a growing conservative trend in New Jersey, an increased Republican presence in the state legislature could very well make New Jersey a hotspot in the presidential primaries.
"The primary campaigning has already started heavily in New Jersey," said Julia Brower '08, president of the College Democrats. "There have been many student groups formed on campus around certain candidates. That shows there is increasing interest here already."
New Jersey's conservative trend is largely due to the popularity of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who visited New Jersey's 12th District last week to support the candidacy of fellow Republican Jennifer Beck, who attempted yesterday to gain a seat in the state Senate.
Though Giuliani enjoys the support of 54 percent of New Jersey's Republican voters, Democratic candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) currently leads Giuliani by a 10 point margin with 49 percent, according to a recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll. Hillary's Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), has also made his mark in New Jersey with a rally in Newark on Oct. 22. At the rally, Obama appealed directly to the state's youth, charging students $15 rather than the typical $25 admission fee.
"Both Clinton and Obama have made a considerable presence for themselves in New Jersey," Brower said.
University Republicans and Democrats alike have been in contact with presidential campaign officials, asking them to visit campus to inform students and spur increased political activism.
"Princeton has pretty strict rules about when campaigning politicians can speak on campus. They can not campaign or bring fliers and other sorts of propaganda with them, and must have an academic topic to speak about," Brower noted.
Bob Martin, a Republican candidate for state Senate from the 15th District, attended the College Republicans' barbecue in early October, where he encouraged students to support the party. The state in general, and Princeton Borough in particular, has traditionally been a tough target for aspiring Republican candidates, who are pointing to the state's high tax rates and highlighting the need for more conservative economic policies.
Fernandez added that mounting property taxes are driving many people out of the Borough and that economic incentives could very well make this district and others lean toward Republicans. Republican campaigns in New Jersey, however, have been outspent by a three-to-one margin by deep-pocketed Democrats determined to preserve their dominance.
Brower denied that dissatisfaction resulting from increases in property taxes and other economic policies would have a substantial effect. "From what I've heard, they're not predicting major upsets; I don't think that is the case," she said.
Both College Republicans and Democrats are looking not only to promote their own respective political visions but also to get the community excited about the political process.
"We're not endorsing any of the candidates as an organization, but have been making an effort at our general meetings about trying to highlight one of the candidates each time," Brower said.
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