>>> THE GOVERNOR ELEVATE
ANOTHER FORMER ASSISTANT U.S
ATTORNEY TO THE HEIGHTS OF
POWER.
>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE" IS PROVIDED BY PSG &
E, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINES
COMMUNITY.
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED B
NEW JERSEY MAGAZINE.
THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTR
ASSOCIATION.
LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES O
THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.
>>> GOVERNOR CHRISTIE NOMINATE
KEVIN TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE LAME DUCK LEGISLATURE HAS NO
ISSUES BEFORE IT, JUST A DREAM
WHO IS RUNNING FOR WHAT IN A
SLOW SEASON SPECKLATORS ABOUND
WELCOME TO "REPORTER
ROUNDTABLE."
I'M MICHAEL ARON IN TRENTON WITH
US THIS WEEK ARE FOUR PEOPLE
THAT HAVE SPECULATION.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WIT
THEM
DAVID OF TOWN SQUARE MEDIA AND
NEW JERSEY 101.5 RADIO
MELISSA OF THE BERGEN RECORD
MATTHEW OF POLITICKERNJ.COM AN
JOHN OF NEW JERSEY PRESS MEDIA
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE CALLED A NEW
CONFERENCE MONDAY MORNING FO
1:30 THAT AFTERNOON.
ALL THE OFFICE SAID WAS IT
INVOLVED PERSONNEL
THOSE OF US WHO DROPPED WHAT W
WERE DOING HAD NO IDEA IT WAS TO
ANNOUNCE KEVIN
NO ONE HAD HEARD HIM SPEAK INT
A MICROPHONE UNTIL THAT DAY.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNO
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE HIM AND
HIS ADMINISTRATION INSIDE TH
STATEHOUSE
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HI
CONTINUED CONFIDENCE IN ME AND
OFFERING THIS TO SERVE AS TH
NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> HAS ANYBODY GOTTEN HIM ON THE
RECORD BEFORE?
>> YOU SUMMED IT UP WELL
ACTUALLY
>> YEAH?
WAS IT A SURPRISE, THI
APPOINTMENT?
>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS
SURPRISE
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT CHRI
CHRISTIE IS HE'S LOYAL
HE HAS AN INSIDE GROUP OF PEOPLE
HE COUNTS ON
HE'S A FORMER PROSECUTOR, SO
HE'S FAMILIAR WITH HIS WORK AN
HE PRIZES LOYALTY AND PEOPLE WHO
ARE SHARP.
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE'S A SHARP
GUY, THEREFORE I DON'T THINK
IT'S SURPRISING AT ALL
>> AT THE END OF THE PRESS
CONFERENCE, HE SAID YOU CAN'
TEACH SMART AND YOU CAN'T TEAC
OIL.
YOU CAN TEACH EVERYTHING ELSE,
BUT NOT THOSE.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
WERE YOU TAKEN ABACK
>> I DIDN'T EXPECT THE
ANNOUNCEMENT, I WAS OFF ON
MONDAY
HE IS A LOGICAL CHOICE
HE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE THA
TRAVELED WITH CHRISTIE
>> A COUPLE WEEKS AGO?
>> YEAH, IN ARIZONA.
>> HE WAS CHIEF OF STAFF, SO H
WOULD BE ON THAT TRIP.
>> HE'S SOMEBODY THAT CHRISTIE
RELIES UPON AND HAS A LOT OF
FAITH IN
IT MAKES SENSE
IT'S A GOOD JOB FOR HIM.
HE WAS A SENATOR, THEN A JUDGE
IT'S NOT A BAD GIG
>> JEFF AND BEFORE HIM WAS PAUL.
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN
HOFFMAN HAS BEEN SERVING SINCE
JUNE, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING T
EVOLVE INTO THE FULL FLEDGED
ATTORNEY GENERAL
I WAS WRONG.
SO, I WAS SURPRISED.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> I THINK THAT POSSIBLY THE ONE
THING THAT IS SURPRISING LEAST
TO ME WAS THAT CHRISTIE WANTED
HIM TO TAKE THIS JOB AS OPPOSE
TO STAY WHERE HE WAS
PEOPLE WHO KNOW KEVIN, A LOT O
PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE,
LIKE THE GUY
HE HAS VERY, VERY GOOD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH A LOT O
LEGISLATURES
A LOT OF PEOPLE RESPECT HIM AN
WITH CHRISTIE, WHO IS SAYING H
WANTS HIS SECOND TERM TO NOT B
ABOUT SMALL THINGS, BUT BI
THINGS, TOO, A GUY LIKE THIS
WOULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
I GUESS IT'S GOING TO BE, YO
KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE SEEN HO
HIS REPLACEMENT DOES WITH THOS
KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS
>> YOUR TAKE ON THIS
>> I WOULD REITERATE WHAT YO
SAID
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE,
CHRISTIE SAID YOU CAN'T TEAC
LOYALTY.
THIS ISN'T NEW TO CHRISTIE FOR
HIM TO KIND OF MOVE UP PEOPLE IN
HIS INNER CIRCLE
SO, IN THAT RESPECT, NO, I DON'T
THINK IT WAS THAT MUCH OF
SURPRISE
IT'S A GOOD POINT YOU MADE, BU
WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T TOO MUCH O
A SURPRISE IN THAT
>> I DID A PIECE A COUPLE DAYS
LATER, REACTING -- TRYING TO
FLUSH HIM OUT.
HE DOES GET RAVE REVIEWS FRO
LEGISLATURES AT THE POST
PARTIES.
IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING THAT
THIS DIDN'T LEAK OUT IN ANY WAY.
THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT KEEPIN
IT
VERY TIGHT SHIP.
SO, KEVIN O'DOWD WILL, ASSUMIN
HE'S CONFIRMED MOVE TO LAW AND
PUBLIC SAFETY WHERE THERE WILL
BE A TINY BIT OF A FIREWAL
BETWEEN HIM AND THE GOVERNOR
HE'S BE REPLACED BY REGINA,
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, FOR WHAT?
WHAT WAS HER PORTFOLIO
AUTHORITIES UNIT
OKAY
WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER
EITHER, BUT HERE SHE IS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
GOVERNOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
BOTH IN TERMS OF THIS POSITION
AS WELL AS THE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED TO ME.
IT'S BEEN BOTH A FASCINATING AND
EXCITING FOUR YEARS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING T
SERVE AND I WANT TO THAN
EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED,
ESPECIALLY KEVIN
HE HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT
LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANKS
>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HER
ANYTHING
>> NOT MUCH.
CHRIS CHRISTIE TRUSTS HER.
HE'S PROBABLY ALIGNS WITH HE
PHILOSOPHY
HE OBVIOUSLY THINKS SHE'
BRIGHT
SHE PROBABLY IS.
HE FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH HER.
PROBABLY PART OF THAT IS H
TRUSTS HER TO BE HONEST.
CHRISTIE WAS MAKING A POINT
MONTH OR SO AGO.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT T
INSULATE YOURSELF FROM REALITY
IT MIGHT SOUND PECULIAR, BUT
HAPPENS IN THIS BUSINESS
YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH AND ARE ON
THE SAME WAVELENGTH AS YOU
SHE FIT THAT IS BILL
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS SHE BRING
TO THE TABLE IS MUNICIPA
GOVERNMENT
HARDING TOWNSHIP
>> MORRIS COUNTY
>> SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED I
MONMOUTH COUNTY.
I'M SORRY, HEARTEN
>> I'M GUESSING MARS, COULD BE
WARREN
>> YOU KNOW, SHE ALSO HA
EXPERIENCE FROM HER DAYS AS TH
CHIEF OF STAFF IN TH
TREASURER'S OFFICE
THAT INDICATES TO ME BUDGETING
IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A --
CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE PRIORITY
OR SMART BUDGETING IS A HUGE
PRIORITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIO
MOVING FORWARD
>> I REMEMBER WHEN CHRISTIE WA
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2009
SHE WAS IN HIS OR BIT.
SHE COMES OUT OF AT&T.
SHE JUST KIND OF GLOMED ON T
THE CAMPAIGN AND SHE HAS SKILL
AND TALENT BECAUSE SHE HAS BEE
SEIZED UP AND TAKEN BY THI
ADMINISTRATION SINCE THEN AN
THEY ARE GOING TO RUN IT
LET'S MOVE OVER TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
WE ARE ENTERING A LAME DUC
PERIOD
OFTEN, THE LAME DUCK SESSION I
WHEN BIG THINGS GET DONE BECAUSE
A RASH OF POLITICIANS GOT VOTE
OUT OF OFFICE AND THEY ARE FRE
TO VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE
THAT'S NOT THE CASE THIS YEAR.
ONLY TWO SITTING LEGISLATURE
LOST THEIR SEAT IN THIS CURREN
ELECTION, TWO MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY, ONE FROM EACH PARTY.
THERE ARE NO BIG ISSUES, AM
RIGHT?
>> NO, I THINK -- THERE'S NO
REAL BIG ISSUES.
THE DREAM ACT.
PRIOR TO THE ELECTION, CHRIS
CHRISTIE SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT
IN-STATE TUITION
>> AFTER HAVING SAID TWO YEARS
>> IT WAS LIKE A MONTH BEFOR
THE ELECTION
YOU KNOW, SO HE MADE THE
COMMENTS, POST ELECTIO
IMMEDIATELY FROM THE SENATE'
SWEENEY.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE W
SEEING AND DREAM ACT CAME UP
WE KNEW THEY WERE INTENT O
SENDING THE BILL MADE BEFORE THE
COMMENTS
LOW AND BEHOLD, WE ARE AT THIS
IMPASSE WHERE BOTH SIDES ARE
DIGGING IN THEIR HEELS OVER TH
SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL
LAWMAKERS SAY IT'S GOING TO BE
THE ONE THAT GOES TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK.
CHRISTIE SAYS HE DOES NO
SUPPORT THAT VERSION
>> ACCORDING TO CHRISTIE, IT'S
TOO GENEROUS
IT ALLOWS THE CHILDREN OF TH
UNDOCUMENTED TO ATTEND NEW
JERSEY STATE COLLEGES AT
IN-STATE TUITION RATES AND
PROVIDES TUITION ASSISTANC
GRANTS ON TOP OF IT AND ALLOWS
ACCORDING TO CHRISTIE, KIDS FROM
PENNSYLVANIA WHO MIGHT GO TO
BOARDING SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY TO
ALSO GO TO NEW JERSEY COLLEGES
AT IN-STATE TUITION RATES.
SWEENEY REPLIES IT'S PROBABLY
DOZEN OR 15 KIDS WE ARE TALKIN
ABOUT.
CHRISTIE SAYS THE BILL IS TO
GENEROUS, MORE SO THAN THE
FEDERAL DREAM ACT, WHICH NEVER
PASSED
IN TERMS OF DEADLINES AND CAPS
ON TIME.
HE SAYS THE SWEENEY BILL WOULD
MAKE NEW JERSEY A MAGNET FOR
IMMIGRANTS
SWEENEY SAYS IT'S RIDICULOUS
ARE WE GOING TO GET A BILL THA
PASSES, THEN THE LEGISLATURE
WILL HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH
CHRISTIE'S RECOMMENDATIONS O
NOT?
>> IT WILL ALLOW BOTH SIDES TO
BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, LOOK AT THE
OTHER GUY.
WE WANTED TO GET THIS DONE AND
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTI
BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BUIL
HISPANIC SUPPORT IF HE INTENDE
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STEVE SWEENEY
TO CARVE OUT A POSITION ON THIS.
I DON'T DOUBT HE BELIEVES WHAT
HE SAID.
HE'S OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT
GUBERNATORIAL RUN HIMSELF.
EVERYBODY IS STAKING OUT
POSITIONS ON THIS AND IT'S A
GREAT ONE TO HAVE.
>> LEGISLATURES SAID WATCH
SWEENEY AND CHRISTIE
CHRISTIE, IN THE NEXT TERM I
GOING TO BE HAVING TO GO TO TH
RIGHT AND SWEENEY, BECAUSE O
HIS GUBERNATORIAL AMBITIONS IS
GOING TO HAVE TO TACK TO THE
LEFT
THE DREAM ACT SEEMS TO BE AN
EXAMPLE OF THIS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THEY DUG I
THEIR HEELS, TOO
>> WHO DID
>> BOTH SIDES.
THE ARGUMENT STEVE SWEENEY I
USING NOW, WHEN GOVERNOR CHRIS
CHRISTIE MADE THE COMMENTS, TH
BILL IS THERE.
THE BILL HASN'T CHANGED.
CHRISTIE DIDN'T SAY I'
SUPPORTING THE SENATE VERSION OR
TUITION E CALLTY
SWEENEY SPIELS CONFIDENT IN HI
ARGUMENT, THE BILL WAS ON TH
TABLE THE ENTIRE TIME.
HOW DO YOU GO BACK NOW
THE BILL AND THE ASSEMBLY WA
DIFFERENT BUT I NEVER HEARD TH
GOVERNOR SAY OR ANYBODY ON HIS
THIS, REFERENCING THE SENATE
BILL OR EXCUSE ME, THE ASSEMBL
BILL
>> HE SAYS HE PREFERS TH
ASSEMBLY VERSION
HE CAME OUT AND SAID HE WA
PLANNING TO GO ALONG WITH TH
SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE VAGUE I
HIS REMARKS.
HE GOT THE MAJORITY OF THE
LATINO VOTE IN THE STATE
NEVER SAYING I SUPPORT SENATOR
SWEENEY, STILL
I THINK HE LEFT IT VAGUE ENOUG
ON PURPOSE SO HE COULD SAY H
SUPPORTS THE IDEA.
>> HE CAN SAY IT GOING FORWARD
WHICH IS IMPORTANT
THE ISSUE IS PROBABLY GOING TO
COME UP IF HE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT
AND SAY HEY, I TRIED TO REASON
WITH THESE PEOPLE.
THIS WAS UNREASONABLE, WHAT THEY
WERE TRYING TO DO AND I'M FO
THIS
>> SPEAKING OF HIM TRYING TO RUN
FOR PRESIDENT, HE TOOK QUESTIONS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERA
WEEKS ON MONDAY AFTER THOS
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE ASKED HIM HOW HE FEELS ABOU
THE FACT THAT HE'S NOW LINKED OR
NAMED AS THE FRONT-RUNNER,
OFTEN, IN PRESS ACCOUNTS AND THE
NATIONAL MEDIA
HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY
>> DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
IT'S MEANINGLESS
IT'S DECEMBER OF 2013.
IT'S COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS AN
HAS NO AFFECT ON ME NOR DO I
GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT
JUST DOESN'T MATTER.
DOESN'T CHANGE
JENNA.
>> ANY REACTION?
>> THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION,
THE NATIONAL MEDIA HUNG AROUND
AFTER HIS BIG VICTORY.
HE SCOFFED SAYING IT'S
FLATTERING, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
IT'S NOT FLATTERING TO BE ASKE
ABOUT THIS
HE DANCED AROUND THIS ISSU
BEFORE
IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME.
>> HE'S BEEN DANCING AROUND IT
FOR TWO YEARS.
>> THEY DID A STORY ABOUT IT
THIS WEEK.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO TH
GOVERNOR, I THINK IT'S OPPOSIT
OF WHAT HE IS SAYING
HE IS ABSOLUTELY AWARE OF WHAT
HE'S SAYING, DISCUSSING AND TH
WAY SHE'S DOING IT
IT IS GOING TO FRAME THE CONTEXT
UPON WHICH HE WILL RUN FOR
PRESIDENT, SHOULD HE DECIDE TO
MAKE THAT DECISION
THE POINT THAT WAS BEING MAD
WITH PETER, THE GUY I WA
TALKING TO WAS THAT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
ANIMAL
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL WHAT YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT, BUT FRAME IT IN A WAY
BECAUSE YOU ARE BEIN
SCRUTINIZED AND AS A
FRONT-RUNNER HE IS WHETHER YOU
LIKE IT OR NOT
>> YOU SAID A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT ANIMAL
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID MAYBE THE
SECOND TERM IS GOING TO BE
TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST
TERM
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAVEN'T BEE
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> THEY ARE IN IDAHO AND
OKLAHOMA
>> THEY ARE ON HIS ITINERARY
THIS WEEKEND
>> IDAHO IS TODAY OR HE'
HEADING OUT TO IDAHO TODAY
I THINK HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS
BEEN EXTREMELY SMART, TH
POLITICAL PEOPLE IN HI
ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY SMART AT HOW THEY HAVE
CRACKED, HELPED HIM CRAFT HI
PERSONA.
HE'S HAD A HUGE ROLE IN THAT
THE REALITY IS, SINCE PROBABLY
LATE 2010, THEY HAVE BEE
CRAFTING HIS NATIONAL PERSON
AIMING TOWARD WHERE HE IS NOW.
ALL THAT HAMLET STUFF, IN 2012
HOW HE'S GOING TO RUN, NOT GOING
TO RUN, WAS WE ARE GOING TO TR
TO FIND IF IT WAS A GLORIOUS SET
UP WHERE WE ARE NOW AND MOVING
FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A
EXAGGERATION TO TAKE A LOOK AT
MOST OF WHAT HE DOES BETWEEN NOW
AND WHEN EVER HE FINALLY DECIDES
TO DECLARE AND HE WILL, THAT ALL
OF IT IS AIMING UP TOWARD THAT
>> LOOKS THAT WAY.
>> I THINK IN THE SAME REGARD OF
WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HIS STAFF,
IT'S NO ACCIDENT HE'S CHAIRMAN
OF THE RGA
36 STATES, MANY IMPORTANT FO
PRESIDENTIAL
CNN HAD A STORY THAT SUGGESTED
HE AND JINDAL WANTED TO BE
CHAIRMEN IN 2014
>> HE AND WHO?
>> BOBBY JINDAL WHO IS NOW VIC
CHAIRMAN
YOU GET TO DO SOME TRAVELING
BUT NOT AS PROMINENTLY AS TH
CHAIRMAN
THERE WAS A STORY THERE WAS JOCK
KIING GOING ON
THEY BOTH WANTED 2014.
CHRISTIE GOT IT.
IT GIVES HIM AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TH
COUNTRY.
HE'S MEETING, YOU KNOW, DONORS
ALL OVER THE PLACE
HE'S MEETING APPARATUS IN AL
THESE DIFFERENT STATES AND TRY
OUT HIS SPEECHES
IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THAT GROUP WANTED HIM
YOU CAN SEE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT,
HE IS A MONEY MACHINE.
PEOPLE KNOW THAT AND THEY NEED
THE MONEY, THEY NEED THE MONEY
TO CAMPAIGN.
HE'S A GUY THAT CAN BRING IT IN.
>> THEY NEED THE STAR POWER AS
WELL
>> YES
>> THERE ARE A COUPL
INTERESTING SIDE SHOWS IN TH
LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW LIKE
GEORGE WASHINGTON CLOSURE ISSUE.
THERE'S A HEARING ON MONDAY.
AGAIN, BILL CAME FROM THEPOR
AUTHORITY.
TO MY SURPRISE, HE'S ACCEPTE
THE INVITATION AND WILL BE THERE
MONDAY
YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A HEARING
ON OBAMA CARE AND WHAT THE
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION'
DIVISION HAS BEEN.
AS WE DISCUSSED, THERE AREN'
BIG BILLS OR FIGHTS GOING ON
WHICH LED SOME OF US
PARTICULARLY YOUR WEBSITE, T
START SPECULATING WHO IS RUNNING
FOR WHAT OFFICE THESE DAYS
>> THERE WAS A STORY EARLIER I
THE WEEK AND RUNNING AGAINST
COREY BOOKER
YOU THINK THAT'S GOING T
HAPPEN
>> I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY.
HE SAID HE'S LOOKING AT IT
WE KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF
REPUBLICANS THAT ARE EYEING IT
>> WHO
>> WELL, OTHER NAMES THAT AR
BEING POSZED AROUND, I CAN SAY
JOHN IS ONE OF THEM.
HE THREW HIMSELF INTO THAT
TOM KING JR., HIS NAME IS BEIN
TOSSED AROUND.
THESE NAMES CONTINUE TO COME UP.
THE PROBLEM IS WHAT THEY ARE
GOING TO GO AGAINST.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN DECEMBER.
UNLESS A RICH CANDIDATE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE UP HILL BATTE
BARBARA BUONO HAD.
HERB JACKSON SAID WHEN THEY RA
A CAMPAIGN, AT THE TIME HE HAD
SOME $1 MILLION IN THE BANK.
THE IDEA JOHN WOULD COME IN OR
TOM CAIN JR., WITH LITTL
FUNDING?
>> 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO, YOU USE
TO BE ABLE TO RUN AND LOSE AND
INHANS YOUR STANDING IN TH
STATE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE CAS
ANYMORE.
IF I WERE A KING UP AGAINST
BOOKER, I THINK I WOULD SIT IT
OUT, WOULDN'T YOU?
>> IT'S SEDUCTIVE.
LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH
BOOKER JUST DEFEATING LONIGAN.
IT IS LOWER THAN PROJECTED
EVERYBODY IS SAYING MAYBE BOOKER
IS SA SEPTEMBERABLE OR MOR
VULNERABLE THAN WE THOUGHT
HE'S NOW ENTRENCHED IN THE
PRISON SYSTEM FOR A YEAR
A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT ELECTION
WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEKEND
ON OCTOBER, WHICH WAS UNUSUAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A TRU
MEASURE OF HIS POPULARITY.
>> SOMEBODY LIKE BRAND NECK, I
WAS WONDERING IF HE WAS THINKING
ABOUT A RUN FOR GOVERNOR
>> IN THREE YEARS.
>> TAKING ON COREY BOOKER IS A
DIFFERENT ANIMAL
HE'S A BRIGHT GUY, A FUNNY GUY
HE DOES STAND-UP COMEDY.
>> A LAWYER IN NEW JERSEY AND HE
WAS LOADED
>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT
HE'S A CHARP CHARACTER
HE'S LOOKING AT A LOT OF THEM.
EVERYBODY IS NOT QUITE
COMMITTING YET
THE POINT THERE'S NO MONEY
RAISED YET IS VERY IMPORTANT
ANY THOUGHT THAT HE CLOSED THE
GAP WITHIN TEN POINTS?
BOOKER DID NOT SPEND MONEY O
NETWORK TELEVISION
HE WAS SAVING MONEY IN THE BANK.
IF HE WANTED TO RUN A MORE
AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN, HE COUL
HAVE
HE WAS SAVING THAT MONEY FOR
NEXT YEAR.
>> OUT THERE RAISING MONEY FOR
MULTIPLE REASONS
>> SPEAKING OF LONIGAN, I READ
SPECULATION THAT EVEN THOUGH O
ELECTION NIGHT, HE SAID I'
FINISHED
IT WAS A STATEWIDE OFF
HE'S GOING TO MOVE TO OCEAN OR
BURLINGTON COUNTY.
>> OCEAN COUNTY WENT HUGE FO
HIM AND HE KNOWS THAT.
VERY CONSERVATIVE COUNTY
A LOT OF MONEY DOWN THERE THAT
THEY COULD RAISE QUICKLY WIT
PEOPLE LIKE GEORGE GILMORE
HEADING IT UP.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY
THE LEAST.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING T
HAPPEN
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD NEVER, EVER PREDICT WHAT
THEY WOULD DO OR SAY BECAUSE I
WOULD BE WRONG
>> OKAY.
SPEAKING OF 2017, THE MAYOR OF
JERSEY CITY IS SOMEHOW PROJECTED
INTO THAT RACE EVEN THOUGH HE'
ONLY BEEN THE MAYOR THRE
MONTHS, HAD A FUND-RAISE
HEADLINED BY BILL CLINTON THIS
WEEK, NOT FOR A 2017 RUN, BU
FOR WHAT
HIS FIRST RE-ELECTION AS MAYOR
>> HEATHER SAID IT WAS TO PA
OFF CAMPAIGN DEBT.
I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD A LOT O
CAMPAIGN DEBT.
TO PAY THAT OFF AND RAISE MONE
GOING FORWARD.
>> HE RAISED $600,000 AN
$700,000
>> POLITICKER PROMOTED THE IDE
OF A FULL CANDIDACY.
THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT HO
PHILLIP AND SWEENEY AND THEI
BODY LANGUAGE.
>> EVERYBODY THAT WAS DOWN
THERE, IT'S WHEN PEOPLE GO DOW
AND YOU HAVE TO RUB ELBOWS
OF COURSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE, OR A
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE SAID HOW CAN
YOU WRITE IT OFF
LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF
OURSELVES.
IF YOU ASKED ONE OF THOSE MEN,
THEY ARE NOT -- IT'S NOT
COMPLETELY ON THE BACK BURNING
FOR THEM
IT'S NOT SUCH A JOKE
YOU HAVE BILL CLINTON COMING I
TO DO A FUND-RAISER FOR TH
MAYOR OF JERSEY CITY
>> HE WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER O
HILLARY.
>> HE WAS.
>> IN 2008
>> RIGHT
WHEN HE WAS GOING AGAINST MAYO
HEALEY, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
WAS POSTERED ALL OVER JERSEY
CITY, CLINTON STAYED OUT OF IT
MAYBE THIS IS KIND OF TO THROW A
BONE IN THAT RESPECT BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T HELP HIM IN TH
CAMPAIGN
AS SOON AS HE TOOK THE REIGNS AS
MAYOR, HE IMMEDIATELY BECAME
CROPPING UP AT ALL THESE EVENT
WHETHER IT BEING IN ATLANTIC
CITY OR THE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION IN ATLANTIC CITY,
RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION
>> THAT'S WHEN YOU SAID -- O
THAT NOTE, AND BOB SUMMER, WEL
CONNECTED COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT.
LET'S WRAP IT UP FOR THIS WEEK
THANKS VERY MUCH
WE'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER ROUND
TABLE SATURDAY AND SUNDA
MORNING AT 9:00.
THIS WEEK ON "REPORTER
ROUNDTABLE" THE INTERVIEW IS A
2:00 AND SUNDAY AT 10:00
THERE'S MORE AT NJTV NEWS.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
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