Is Mikie Sherrill destined to be New Jersey’s next political star, or when all is said and done, will she end up being a mere footnote in the state’s political history?

That seems overly dramatic to be sure, but then again, you really have to observe her campaign in action.
It was 3 p.m. on this chilly and cold Monday afternoon and about 50 people of all ages had congregated in a bricklayers’ union hall at the end of a dead-end street in Fairfield.

Wet weather or not, they were there to hit the streets and knock on doors for Sherrill.

Two of them were John and Laurie Bullard of New Bedford, Mass. Yes, New Bedford, Mass.

John, who used to be the city’s mayor, said he and his wife searched out Republican-controlled districts on the verge of tipping in favor of the Democrats and they settled on the 11th. So more than once this fall, they headed south, were provided with maps and out they went to talk to people. This afternoon, they were headed to Montville.

Then there’s Peter Kenny, who also lives outside the district in Jersey City. He said he got incredibly angry when Donald Trump was elected. When he calmed down, he decided to do something about it. What he did was look for a congressional candidate to work for – and he picked Sherrill. Kenny said he already has knocked on about 700 doors on her behalf.

Why? Simple.

He said he sees Sherrill as a “throwback” to the types of esteemed leaders New Jersey used to have, namely Tom Kean and Bill Bradley.

Really? Kean and Bradley? A two-term governor and a former United States senator?

Depending on your personal view, this is either high praise or outright silliness.

Sherrill spoke briefly to the canvassers standing around her. She noted the many people who marched just this year in support of women’s rights and gun control. But she admitted that many do not vote in midterm elections. Hence, the need to give them a “push,” as she put it.

Sherrill left. The canvassers got a pep talk and left as well.

An hour later, Sherrill was joined by Gov. Phil Murphy in Morristown for a stroll through the business district.

It was still raining, Murphy wore a windbreaker and a baseball cap bearing the logo of the State Police; Sherrill wore a pink hat.

Off they went, leading a pack of other Democratic candidates, supporters and the press, a curious band proceeding through the slippery streets of this historic town.

There were a handful of stops – two coffee shops, a bakery and a barber shop.

In every one, people seemed as happy to meet Sherrill as they were Murphy.

Betsy Keppel saw Sherrill enter the Small World coffee shop and she immediately said, “Thank you for your service,” Sherrill is, of course, a former Navy helicopter pilot.

Murphy’s contribution was to tell all who would listen that, “We have to elect her tomorrow.”

That can not be assured. Sherrill said she feels good, but is not overconfident.

Republican Jay Webber, for his part, has been trying to paint the Democrat as too liberal for the district, notwithstanding her talk about bipartisanship. He also is making a last-ditch effort to paint Sherrill as ambiguous, or worse, when it comes to Israel,. He is again bringing up the fact that at a recent debate, Sherrill failed to give “yes,” or “no” answers when asked if she favors moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and the United States pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.

These are legitimate points, but it’s questionable how much foreign policy will matter in this election.

But there’s no question we will soon know something about Sherrill’s place in New Jersey politics.