Buono: Running Without Backing of Old-Boys Network

By Mark J. Magyar (Courtesy of NJ Spotlight)

Christine Todd Whitman knows what it’s like to be Barbara Buono.

Like the Democratic candidate for governor, Whitman knows what it’s like to be way down in the polls, to have shaky support from a Senate president of her own party, and to have the national party hold back the money you need for TV ads because it looks like you aren’t going to win.

Even more, New Jersey’s only woman governor knows what it’s like to have her administration dismissed -- by legislators from her own party -- as “the estrogen palace” and “the broads down the hall”; to have the media comment on her dress, hairstyle and femininity; and to try to figure out if her candidacy is being treated dismissively because she’s a longshot, because she’s a woman, or a combination of the two.

That’s why the Republican Whitman, despite being a supporter of Gov. Chris Christie, was the only one on a panel of five former governors -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- brought together for a “Governor’s Summit” in late May who had any words of encouragement for Buono.

“When I ran against Bill Bradley, I was given absolutely no chance,” Whitman said, recalling her 1990 U.S. Senate race in which she was down 30 points in the polls in late September, about the same amount Buono trails Christie by today.

Whitman managed to turn the race into a referendum on Gov. Jim Florio’s tax hikes, but she said “the Republican National Committee took away the last bit of money I needed for TV advertising.” She lost by just 2 percent of the vote. Three years later, she came from 21 points down in September to oust Florio.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.