Murphy Grim after Dems’ election day withdrawal

NEWARK – Phil Murphy was downcast but defiant Wednesday afternoon as he tried to make sense of this week’s election.

He began by saying that a “free and fair election” is a hallmark of democracy, but his speech at the state office in this city was more than just a tribute to American democracy.

He was also ready to fight.

“If there is an attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being.”

It sounded a little cryptic, even strange. Does he expect a military invasion?

Asked to explain, the governor said that one has to assume that federal action of some kind will try to weaken New Jersey laws protecting abortion rights and controlling guns.

Then there’s Donald Trump’s mass deportation threat, which prompted the governor to consider whether he really intends to round up immigrants.

If that’s the case, Murphy said the state will use whatever power it has to stand with the immigrant community.

At the same time, Murphy said that when he became governor, Trump was president, and the men worked together during COVID and when Trump gave federal approval to build a new portal bridge on a rail line into Manhattan. So it can happen again.

As for the election itself, Murphy acknowledged that Democrats’ margins of victory were much lower than in 2020. He called the entire episode a sobering experience.

Kamala Harris won New Jersey by about five points; Joe Biden won it by three times that amount.

He credited Republicans for playing their cards well, saying their talk about crime, immigration and a poor economy resonated despite evidence to the contrary.

For example, various studies show that New Jersey’s violent crime rate is among the lowest in the nation.

The governor also acknowledged the Democrats’ problem with Hispanics, once a reliable base. He said part of it is simple messaging, but the party also needs to reevaluate how it meets the needs of the Hispanic community.

And as for Democrats losing ground in New Jersey, Murphy admitted:

“Our race (in 2021) may have been the canary in the coal mine.”

That’s when Murphy beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli by just 3 points or so.

It was a pretty honest admission, but how far does it go?

In some ways, each election is its own story.

A year after the 2021 election, Democrats across the country fared much better than expected in the midterms. And last year, Democrats picked up six seats in the state legislature, fending off what was believed to be a strong Republican challenge. So maybe that canary was wrong.

Which brings us to this year and Trump’s power at the top of the ticket.

Murphy said:

“He has an uncanny ability to connect with people – even when it’s not in their best interest.”

The governor was also asked about the race and gender issue. He replied that he didn’t think that was at stake in a very diverse state like New Jersey.

But Murphy said that may have been the case nationally, “which is unfortunate.”

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