For immediate release
April 23, 2020
Galloway, N.J. _ The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University today posted an audio podcast about the coronavirus’ impact on upcoming political races.
Hughes Center Senior Consulting Analyst Carl Golden and Executive Director John Froonjian discuss state and national politics during the pandemic. Golden, a longtime player in GOP politics, is one of New Jersey’s most quoted pundits. Froonjian was a former political reporter at The Press of Atlantic City before joining the Hughes Center in 2011.
Topics include the virus’ effect on the presidential election, Gov. Phil Murphy, the 2nd Congressional District election and other New Jersey races and issues.
‘This is certainly going to be an unusual election year as many of the typical political practices may not apply or be as effective,” Froonjian said. “Carl and I will continue to monitor and analyze local races and trends.”
The audio is available at stockton.edu/hughescenter and may be used on news media websites or quoted in related news stories. A time-stamped Zoom transcript is available, but the Hughes Center asks that any quotes taken from it be confirmed on the audio.
Following are comments by Carl Golden from the podcast:
On the impact of the pandemic: Traditional campaigning. It has virtually disappeared. … Politics is a people-to-people interaction business and it always has been and always will be. And that’s lost at least for the moment. And we just don’t know when we’re going to get it back. We don’t even know if we’re going to be able to go to the polls to vote.
How the presidential candidates are adapting to virtual campaigning: (President Trump) doesn’t have to adapt a great deal. He’s got the biggest bully pulpit and biggest megaphone in the world. I think it’s hurting the vice president (Biden) because he’s stuck in a basement in his house in Wilmington in a makeshift TV studio trying to get the message out. And if there ever was a candidate who thrives on the person-to-person, personal interaction, it’s Joe Biden.
On Governor Phil Murphy’s handling of the pandemic: I’m very impressed by the way he’s responded. I’m impressed by the way he’s reacted. I’m impressed by his straightforwardness, his candor. He has his briefings, he gives the information to people without trying to, you know, present it in a way that differs from reality.
On 2nd Congressional District incumbent Republican Jeff Van Drew: Despite the fact that people were upset about his party switch (from Democrat to Republican), I think he’s going to be very formidable. He’s well known, obviously. He’s raised a pretty substantial sum of money. … So it’s not going to be easy to oust him.
On the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary: A strong organization can put together a pretty substantial vote-by-mail program. They are going to make sure their county committee people get their neighborhoods out. … I think organization will be a very, very strong element here, perhaps the equal of money. In a normal time, money is just as important, if not more so. But this time, I think organization is going to trump money a little bit. |
