A veteran Democratic Party operative this evening collared InsiderNJ and strenuously made the case for why he believes voter performance will be flat on Election Day, condemning Speaker Vincent Prieto’s (D-32) and the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee’s (DACC) pickup plan as pure fudge.

“Zero shot in 39,” said the source. “Zero.”

What about 25?

Same as 39, the source said.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy’s not spending a dime.

40 is another targeted district, and the source laughed until he had a choking fit.

Passaic is a deal cut under the nose of Passaic County Democratic Committee Chairman John Currie to empower Kristin Corrado, the outgoing Passaic County Clerk and ally of Republican rainmaker Peter Murphy of Totowa.

Corrado gets senator and Currie – Currie gets clerk.

The idea that Democrats with Currie leading the cavalry are going to mount up for a Charge of the Light Brigade against Peter Murphy’s handpicked candidate is folly, the source said, and exhibit A for Prieto’s delusion.

“I think a storyline should be DACC going after districts that they’re never going to win versus districts that because of that they could lose,” said the source.

He mentioned LD2, 11 and 16.

“Sixteen and 2 can be plus 2 districts,” said the source. “And if you’re winning 25… you’re winning 2 and 11 and holding 16 because at that point it’s a whitewash. How do they think we pick up 39 or 25 but lose 16? Stupid.”

But Murphy’s beating Guadagno by 25 percentage points. Isn’t it really all doable in that atmosphere? Isn’t it the Democrats’ long-awaited payback for that down-ballot humiliation they suffered at the hands of Christie Todd Whitman?

“No,” the source insisted. “Status quo. Low turnout. Phil field isn’t lighting the world on fire. And in these districts [the Vinny Districts: 25, 39 and 40], there’s no campaign. Example: in LD11, Phil running 52% in his internals.”

That’s an all-in opportunity for the Democrats where Murphy should be crucifying Guadagno, but he’s not.

“No down ballot landslide,” the source said.