Posted by UBERHIPPY on May 11, 2003 at 12:52:13:

In Reply to: Michael Aron, On the Record: 31st District State Senate Democrat Primary Candidates posted by GET NJ on May 11, 2003 at 12:04:47:

Political campaigns – as with everything else – throw a spin on the guiding principle of the Hippocratic Oath: first do no harm. Here, candidates and their handlers are not concerned with the public good. What politicians have in mind is their own success – or the consequent subsequent lack thereof.

When a candidate rolls the dice by entering any uncontrolled event, they try to put the odds in their favor. Here, what is more important than picking up support is not losing what you've already got. The ingredients in the goal stew are not making a mistake, not alienating your natural supporters, and, above all, not handing the other side a weapon. With this recipe in mind (as there was no loser), each of the combatants can claim victory after their On The Record appearance. I don't think that there was any shift in the firm support that each of the candidates alredy had at the start. Voters that were leaning one way or the other are now quite likely still moving in that direction.

Right from the start, Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith seemed relaxed and confidant. Smith's opponents charge him with being unable to speak coherently. They won't find any ammunition in this broadcast. The Council President was articulate in communicating his accomplishments. He portrayed himself as a longstanding independent voice who, at the same time, is able to work within a political environment. Councilman Smith clearly stated his position that Mayor Glenn Cunningham stands isolated.

Initially, Mayor Glenn Cunningham seemed a bit nervous. He quickly got into gear appearing sure of himself, yet neither agressive nor egotistical, as his opponents need to prove. By contending that he alone has stood up for Jersey City against outside interests, he parried the charge of having isolated himself. The Jersey City mayor managed the sole memorable sound bite of the interview, quipping that the out-of-town bosses were asleep at the wheel and calling up the image of a derailed light rail car. He frequently brought up his career as a Federal Marshall and a police officer and mentioned his success in maintaining order and offering assistance to New York City in the days following 9/11. (Strangely enough, I don't think that he refered to his military service in the Marines.)

Vincent Militello, like Bayonne's Chuck Wepner of boxing fame, only had to go the distance. Though a trifle stiff and unsmiling, Mr. Militello was still standing at the end of the twelve rounds. He clearly outlined that he was running to offer service to the public, not to boost the interests of any faction or political machine. And, he doesn't see the Bayonne-Jersey City border as any sort of wall in this marathon. As a former Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor, Vincent Militello pointed out that, alone among the candidates, he possesses County-wide experience. As former(?) gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler started his political odyssey with close shot at the State Senate, one can't help but wonder for what target Vincent Militello is using this race as a tracer bullet.

: Michael Aron speaks with the Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith, and former Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Vincent Militello concerning the 31st District State Senate Democrat Primary.

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: Political campaigns – as they do with everything else – throw a spin on the guiding principle of the Hippocratic Oath: first do no harm.  Here, candidates and their handlers are not concerned with the public good.  What politicians have in mind is their own success – or the consequent subsequent lack thereof.

: When a candidate rolls the dice by entering any uncontrolled event, they try to put the odds in their favor.  Here, what is more important than picking up support is not losing what you've already got.  The ingredients in the goal stew are not making a mistake, not alienating your natural supporters, and, above all, not handing the other side a weapon.  With this recipe in mind (as there was no loser), each of the combatants can claim victory after their On The Record appearance.  I don't think that there was any shift in the firm support that each of the candidates alredy had at the start.  Voters that were leaning one way or the other are now quite likely still moving in that direction.

: Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith seemed relaxed and confidant. The Council President's opponents charge him with being unable to speak coherently.  They won't find any ammunition in this broadcast.  He was articulate in communicating his accomplishments.  He portrayed himself as a longstanding independent voice who, at the same time, is able to work within a political environment.   Councilman Smith clearly stated his position that Mayor Glenn Cunningham stands isolated.
:   
: Initially, Glenn Cunningham seemed a bit nervous.  He quickly got into gear appearing sure of himself, yet not agressive or egotistical, as his opponents need to prove.  He  parried the charge that he's isolated himself by contending that he alone has stood up for Jersey City against outside interests.  He managed the sole memorable sound bite of the interview, quipping that the outsiders were asleep at the wheel and calling up the image of a derailed light rail car.  He frequently brought up his career as a Federal Marshall and a police officer.  He mentioned his success in maintaining order and offering assistance to New York City in the days following 9/11.  (Strangely enough, I don't think that he mentioned his service in the Marines.)  

: Vincent Militello, like Bayonne's Chuck Wepner of boxing fame, had only to go the distance.  He accomplished that with ease.  He clearly outlined that he was running to offer the public service, not to boost any faction or political machine.  And he doesn't see the Bayonne-Jersey City border as any sort of wall in this marathon.  As a former Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor, Vincent Militello pointed out that he alone among the candidates.  As former(?) gubernatorial candidate Bret Schundler started his political odyssey with close shot at the State Senate, one can't help but wonder for what target Vincent Militello is using this race as a tracer bullet.

: 
: : Michael Aron speaks with the Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith, and former Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Vincent Militello concerning the 31st District State Senate Democrat Primary.




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