Murphy slaps Hugin rain comments

Gov. Phil Murphy didn’t appreciate Bob Hugin’s comments suggesting today’s rain would keep Democratic voters at home.

“I saw somebody on the other side say he hopes it rains. I mean, come on, man,” Murphy said after voting in Red Bank Tuesday morning. “We can’t be afraid of rain. This is the 21st century, this is the United States of America. We got to get everybody, regardless of their party, regardless of who they’re voting for, to get out and vote period.”

Hugin appeared alongside Reps. Chris Smith and Tom MacArthur at an event in Ocean County Monday night, during which he thanked God for rain that he hoped would boost his election chances.

“It’s raining out, right? That’s Republican weather,” Hugin said on Monday. “These other guys are going to stay at home, we’re going to make it happen. It’s such a big event. Thank God. God’s always looking out for us.”

That rain didn’t keep voters in places from turning out in some Democratic strongholds like Jersey City, where large crowds mobbed polling stations early in the morning.

It remains to be seen if that turnout stays level as the day wears on and the rains worsen in parts of the state — in Camden County, light drizzles turned heavy shortly after 9 a.m. — but poor weather may not end up benefitting Republicans, as the most recent research, however contested it may be, shows that less-enthusiastic voters are the ones that stay home when the weather turns sour.