NJ Voters Angry, Frustrated On Election Day
BAYVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- As New Jersey voters headed to the polls Tuesday, many were in the kind of sour mood that Lou Orsini was experiencing.
The Camden County retiree was so disillusioned with Democrats and Republicans alike that he voted for tea party candidates "to shove it down their throats.''
"They're ruining this country, the two political parties,'' said Orsini, a retired maintenance worker and Vietnam veteran from Blackwood. "This country needs more than two parties, and they can't be rich parties.''
"The person with the most money wins,'' he said. "How can a poor person who really wants to do something good for his country run? They can't.''
Sentiments like that were being heard around New Jersey, where 13 House seats were being decided, but only three of those races were considered truly competitive.
"I've never felt as much despair as I do right now,'' said John Powers, a Bayville retiree who voted Republican out of animus toward President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "I think we are at the lowest point in our country we have ever been at.
"When 62 percent of the public said they didn't want the health care law, Pelosi said 'I don't care,''' Powers said. "I think we're farther apart now as a country than we've ever been.''
Powers voted in New Jersey's 3rd District, where the marquee race was between freshman Democrat John Adler and Republican Jon Runyan, a former Philadelphia Eagles lineman.
Other competitive races in the state were in the 6th District, where veteran Democrat Frank Pallone was facing a challenge from tea party candidate Anna Little.
Investment firm founder Scott Sipprelle was trying to unseat Democrat Rush Holt in central Jersey's 12th District.
Statewide, a constitutional amendment asks voters to bar state officials from diverting state pension and unemployment funds for other purposes.
Jordan Howlett, a 44-year-old Democrat from Toms River, split his ballot "because honestly I don't trust either side.''
Howlett said he appreciates Gov. Chris Christie's efforts to cut back on spending, even though he knows some people will suffer due to those cuts.
"It's like having champagne tastes on a poor man's budget. People want government to do everything for them, then they're shocked when they get the bill,'' he said. "I only supported candidates that I feel will take the economic issues seriously. Social issues are important, too, but in this day and age nothing trumps the economy.''
State officials say just over 111,000 out of more than 160,000 mail-in ballots issued have been returned.
More than 200 lawyers were ready to resolve voting problems, but by midday, few had surfaced.
Officials said there had been scattered reports of people not appearing on voting rolls or showing up at incorrect polling places, but overall operations were going smoothly.
"So far, so good,'' said Shawn Crisafulli, a spokesman for the state Division of Elections.
Polls close at 8 p.m.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
