Murphy v. Kim – Insider NJ

“I think Democratic leaders know something that the rest of us don’t,” was a statement posted on a popular political Facebook page recently about Tammy Murphy’s quest for a US Senate seat.

What the Democratic Party leaders know that rank and file Democrats don’t, is that they have the power to select candidates and the rest of us can’t.

There has been a growing resentment of the “party line” for several years now, chiefly among party grass-roots activists and if those folks decide not to knock on doors, and call or text, next fall, because of Tammy Murphy’s anointment, then the party may have trouble in certain districts. What makes most sense is that the party “leaders” know that Murphy can’t beat Kim in an even-up primary so they are stacking the deck as high and as quickly as possible.

These early endorsements, all but two of the Democratic members of the House, Mayors, party Bosses in Hudson, Camden and a wealthy Florida resident, put a damper on fund raising for Kim and is a very well-orchestrated attempt to make Tammy Murphy’s win seem inevitable. It may well be, but it could hurt the party as elections and events unfold.  Within hours of Murphy’s announcement, Hudson County leadership announced that its 861 County Committee members had breakfast together and voted an endorsement of Tammy.  Well, no, that never happened.  The County Democratic Party endorsed Murphy, but there was no vote among its membership.

If the Republicans have any sense, which is unproven at this point, they will nominate someone who is clearly not tied to the political machines in this state and who will espouse moderation on social issues.  No one springs to mind, as the MAGA thugs have chased the Christie Whitmans and Tom Kean seniors of the GOP into hiding, but, unlikely as it seems, one of that persuasion may emerge.  If that happens, then the resentment among the post 2016, newly birthed Democratic activists, about the party line could spell disaster in this deep blue state for Democrats. Those recently minted Democrats have been focused on the election thief and his enablers, but their more egalitarian instincts have been aroused as this primary battle doesn’t seem at all Fair to them.  Fairness is a much-valued commodity among these folks. Plus, they blame party leaders for throwing Tom Malinowski under the bus.

That scenario is a figment of my fevered liberal soul.  The Democratic Candidate will win next year because the Republicans will fall victim to another mugging by the MAGA thugs and the stakes are too high on the national front to do anything else.

But then again remember the Chicago Daily Tribune headline, “Dewey Defeats Truman.”

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