News from the campaign trail

Democratic congressional candidate Brigid Callahan Harrison has launched a new website, TheRealAmyKennedy.com, which lays out her argument about why her main opponent for the chance to take on Rep. Jeff Van Drew should not become the Democratic nominee in New Jersey’s 2nd district.

The site slams Kennedy for support from Craig Callaway, contradictions on PAC money, her qualifications. and the personal finances of the Kennedy family.

Harrison decried this week’s video of a Gloucester County man, now identified as a state corrections officer, kneeling on another man’s neck and mocking the death of George Floyd.  A Trump campaign banner was the backdrop.

“We must not be silent when incidents like this arise in our country. As disturbing as this footage might be, we must understand that Black and Brown communities all across the country, including our own district, fight this kind of hate, racism and disrespect every day,” Harrison said.  ““In an era in which the President of the United States embraces white supremacists and Jeff Van Drew pledges undying support to that President at all costs, we all know that a lack of leadership is part of the problem.”

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U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) appeared on a Facebook live series in support of Amy Kennedy for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd district.  Kennedy has been hosting a virtual series, Connecting South Jersey Community, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump has relentlessly continued to attack crucial environmental protections and put Americans’ health at greater risk,” Whitehouse said.  “I’m supporting Amy because I know she understands that we cannot address climate change if we continue to leave impacted communities behind and is committed to making the changes that South Jersey and all Americans need.”

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli denounced the video, calling it “despicable and beyond words.”

Ciattarelli said that the state corrections officer in the video “should be fired, barred from future public employment, and stripped of his pension.”

“What are we waiting for?” Ciattarelli said, urging Gov. Phil Murphy, the state Department of Corrections, and the officer’s union, to take quick action.

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The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council has endorsed Will Cunningham in his bid for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 2nd district.

“AATCLC had a front-row view to the extraordinary work Will accomplished as a Chief Investigator on Capitol Hill,” said Carol McGruder, the group’s co-char. “His extraordinary efforts lay the foundation and significantly contributed to the ultimate firing of JUUL’s CEO, and the subsequent FDA and White House banning of fruit-flavored e-cigarette pods.”

On Wednesday, The Collective PAC backed Cunningham’s congressional bid.

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The New Jersey Republican State Committee is launching a new page on their website, www.NJGOP.org/MurphyExposed, to offer their views on Murphy’s job performance.

“We have a duty to ensure that New Jerseyans everywhere know just how badly Governor Murphy has failed our State’s families,” said Republican State Chairman Doug Steinhardt.  “His weak leadership is killing our economy and his poor judgement is killing our loved ones. He had no plan to navigate us through this crisis, and he has no plan to guide us out of it.”

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In an email, Democratic State Chairman John Currie praised Murphy’s leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership and with the support of the millions of residents who have been responsible and are following precautions, New Jersey is now one of the leading states in the country at fighting COVID-19,” Currie said. “In fact, our state is one of only six that has made ‘strong progress’ in dealing with the crisis, according to an independent analysis by Vox.”

The Sunrise Movement, an advocacy group of young people committed to stopping climate change, has endorsed Arati Kreibich for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 5th district.

“When you look at the momentum behind our other endorsed candidates, what we’re seeing across the country is that people are desperate for candidates who will speak with moral clarity about what’s wrong, who’s responsible and how we fix it — whether that’s police violence, the economy, coronavirus, or climate change,”  said Sunrise Movement Political Director Evan Weber.  “Dr. Arati Kreibich is exactly the type of candidate this country needs in a moment like this.

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The New Jersey Republican State Committee is launching a new page on their website, www.NJGOP.org/MurphyExposed, to offer their views on Gov. Phil Murphy’s job performance.

“We have a duty to ensure that New Jerseyans everywhere know just how badly Governor Murphy has failed our State’s families,” said Republican State Chairman Doug Steinhardt.  “His weak leadership is killing our economy and his poor judgement is killing our loved ones. He had no plan to navigate us through this crisis, and he has no plan to guide us out of it.”