New Jersey Republican and Democratic insiders believe Mitt Romney's VP pick will galvanize each of their parties, but they're divided whether Paul Ryan is a better choice than Chris Christie.
Of the 24 Republican respondents to Patch's flash poll this weekend, 25 percent strongly agree and 25 percent strongly disagree with the statement, "Paul Ryan is a stronger VP candidate than Chris Christie would have been." Nearly 17 percent said they somewhat agreed with the statement, while 12.5 percent somewhat disagreed and 20.8 percent were not sure.
However, more than 50 percent of the 27 Democratic respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that Ryan was the better choice, while 18.5 percent somewhat disagreed and 11.1 percent strongly disagreed.
While one GOP respondent said, "Glad C.C. Isnt the selection," another Republican said the New Jersey governor and Wisconsin congressman share similar ideas.
"I think supporters of Christie's reforms will welcome Ryan on the ticket," the respondent said. "He's Christie's ideological first cousin."
Republicans and Democrats agreed that the selection of Ryan will fortify the bases of each party.
Half of the GOP respondents strongly agreed with the statement, "Mitt Romney's decision to choose Paul Ryan as his VP candidate will galvanize New Jersey Republicans." Another 25 percent somewhat agreed with the statement, while 12.5 percent somewhat disagreed and 4.2 percent strongly disagreed.
Democratic respondents were unsure if New Jersey Republicans would get behind Ryan's selection, with more than 25 percent saying they somewhat agree and the same amount saying they somewhat disagree.
"Ryan galvanizes the conservative base of the Republican Party," one GOP respondent said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge with regard to economic matters and helps define the economy as the number one issue in this election."
Almost half of Democratic respondents somewhat agreed and another 30 percent strongly agreed that Ryan as the VP candidate will galvanize New Jersey Democrats.
About 17 percent of the Republicans strongly agreed and 37.5 percent somewhat agreed that Ryan would galvanize New Jersey Democrats.
Nearly all Democratic respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with the statement, "Now that Ryan is on the ticket, New Jersey Democrats can win by running against Ryan's existing budget plans and particularly his proposal for Medicare."
However, nearly 40 percent of Republicans strongly disagreed with the statement.
"The Democratic Party needs to go after both Romney and Ryan for what they are, killers of Social Security and Medicare, they both believe Americans should 'work until they die,'" one Democratic respondent said.
More than 85 percent of Democratic respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that Romney's "decision to choose Paul Ryan as his VP candidate will help the Obama-Biden campaign win the votes of senior citizens in New Jersey."
One Democrat said Ryan's selection "presents voters in NJ with the starkest contrast between governing philosophies that they have faced in many years. Ryan makes Ronald Reagan look like a liberal."
What other Democratic respondents are saying about Ryan:
"Romney loses many independent voters due to the already conservative nature of Romney's campaign. It's now even more conservative."
"It will get Tea Party Conservatives, who have been cool to Romney so far, strongly behind him."
"The biggest advantage is they now have a candidate who has at least the reputation of being a fighter, a quality Romney lacks."
What Republican respondents are saying about Ryan:
"Ryan is a serious Congressman for serious times. His solutions are grounded in reality and with comprehensive detail. He is also a nice person who is able to congenially put forth challenging ideas. He is not a "caricature politician" full of sound bites, but rather real ideas and solutions. He is a Catholic and given Obama administrations attacks on religious freedom, this should be noted."
"Ryan is fiscally conservative, smart and energetic—Romney chose well."
"I have not yet discovered a positive for Romney's decision."
"As New Jerseyans already know, it all about the high taxes and no job. Ryan knows that government spending at all level must get under control! He is dedicated to solving the problem and will get the taxes under control, the economy going and jobs rolling again in the USA."
Earlier this summer, Patch invited Democratic and Republican state leaders to participate in regular surveys about their thoughts on national and statewide issues. These leaders include state Senators, mayors, town council members and local party chairs. To become an insider, email Mike Pignataro at mike@patch.com
Spooner where are the jobs and debt cuts we were promised by mr hope and change? O bummer despite debt ofd 16 trillion he has failed. Let's borrow even more money from china. We can hand out free stuff to everyone so they will vote for us
I disagree with the Republican Party only over the religious right shoving their limited and misunderstood view of god – they are the stupidest most backward people of the earth. Their brethren are destroying the Middle East. God should never rule a country. Throw out the nutty bible thumpers and Baptist soothsayers and assorted other likeminded riffraff and you have a good party. Richard Nixon, despite the left's characterization, was a very good president. Bush I was not bad either. He knew not to go to Baghdad. His stupid son did not. And the party agrees, their current ads admit that Obama inherited a mess from Dubya. They even do not want Dubya and Cheney at the convention. LOL!
I guess I underestimated the selfishness of some of my fellow Americans." This is an ASS WHOLE! You vote for this?
First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner. First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in. First President to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States First President to violate the War Powers Act. First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico . First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party. First President to spend a trillion dollars on 'shovel-ready' jobs when there was no such thing as 'shovel-ready' jobs. First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
A vote for Him is a vote against everything this country stands for!
Obama should be thrown out of office for the fact alone. I spent time with men who fought in the Pacific Campaign in WWII. They loathe Obama. The overhwhelming opinion was that he spat on the graves of the thousands of men who died at the hands of the merciless Imperial Japanese. Obama "apologized" for America? There are thousands of men who died in Pearl Harbor -- how about someone "apologize" for that????
fly to Texas every chance he had and spend time cutting brush and not reading the Presidential Daily Briefings like Bush did. Remember how well trained and bravethe troops were but how they were sent over with poor personal protection equip. Right that was Bush and Rummy
How one treats or mistreats animals shows their true character. Hey gentile, I can already say I know what your true character is. I know all about hypocrites who go to church on Sunday and think that all their sinning the rest of the week will we washed away with one visit. Hey, Bucky poopy pants - Who above the age of 5 uses that expression? I'm self-employed. I don't have to worry about losing my job. My worst year financially was when Bush was still in office. Gentile's memory is fading fast. He asked if I was better off 4 years ago (that would be under Bush not Obama) No - 2008 was bad and Bush was still in office. Want to blame Obama for that? Mr. G., you seem to know more about the housewives, Snooki or a Kardashian than I do. I don't watch any of that garbage, I watch news and I read books like Do Not Ask What Good we do, or Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology, The Path to Power BTW, Mormonism is a cult just like Scientology. Gentile, Bush's wars and failed policies created the deficit and the recession. Who's the dummy? There is none so blind as those that will not see.
Another nut jub heard from. Would the term Red neck be appropriate for you? I'm so tired of all you patriotic Americans telling everyone else because they don't believe your extremist views, we aren't good Americans. You are nothing but intractable nutjobs. There's a salute I'd like to give you! Bushbaby was sooo great - Got us into a war by using deception causing us into deficit spending. Well Hallelulah to him. Which President was it that balanced the budget?
so he can be President