Analyst Says Christie's Decision on US Senate Vote Likely Sealed His Re-Election
By David Madden
GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) -- Looking back on yesterday's election in New Jersey, political observers say there were few surprises in the landslide re-election of Republican governor Chris Christie.
Political analyst Larry Butler at Rowan University says Christie might have hoped for coattails in the legislature, but it didn't happen.
But, notes Butler, Christie made one critical decision that made a big difference: scheduling that special US Senate election in October rather than have it coincide with his own re-election.
"How much closer might the race have been if the leader of the ticket on the Democratic side was Cory Booker?" Butler wonders, "and he might have had some coattails effect on down to the gubernatorial race."
As for Barbara Buono's rant about a lack of party support, Butler suggests she should have known going in there wouldn't be much help given two things. One, their priority to hang onto control in the state legislature, and two, the fact that most Democrats thought a battle against Christie was unwinnable.
