Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno hit the road today to boost Republican candidates before Tuesday's legislative election
Governor Chris Christie tells a large table of ladies if they want to help keep his his blood pressure low, they should vote for the District 18 candidates he supports. He greeted folks eating breakfast during a diner stop at the Edison Diner. EDISON — Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno hit the road today to boost Republican candidates before Tuesday's legislative election.
Christie stopped at the Edison Diner on Route 1 this morning to pose for pictures and shake hands with voters. Although Middlesex County has long been considered a Democratic stronghold, Christie was quick to remind people that he won the county when he beat former Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009.
He said Democrats are on the defensive, pumping more money into their campaigns and running negative advertisements.
"What you're seeing is a desperate Democratic Party," Christie said. "It's scared that its message no longer resonates with voters."
All 120 seats in the state Legislature are up for grabs in Tuesday's election, but only a few races are truly competitive, thanks in part to the new legislative map that was finalized earlier this year.
Democrats will likely maintain control of the Assembly and the state Senate, but Christie has predicted Republicans will gain some seats. Christie said Republicans will nevertheless "make history" by holding onto the seats they already have, because almost every governor's party has lost seats in their first midterm election in the last 48 years.
In District 18, where the Edison Diner is located, Assemblymen Patrick Diegnan and Peter Barnes III (both D-Middlesex) are facing off with Republicans Joseph Sinagra and Marcia Silva. Meanwhile, Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), a frequent critic of Christie, is being challenged by Gloria Dittman, a Republican from Edison.
"People are tired of what's been going on in the state," Singara said. "I believe you're going to see a change in the tide this year."
At a table of senior citizens, Christie told diners the Republican candidates would help him counter Democrats in Trenton.
"If you're caring about my health, send me these guys. That will help keep my blood pressure a little bit lower," Christie joked.
However, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), also the Democratic state chairman, said there's "no chance whatsoever" that Republicans will win the district. He said Christie has failed to lower property taxes or improve the state's economy.
"The only thing the governor succeeds at ... is YouTube moments and treating citizens poorly," Wisniewski said.
Christie's visit to Edison was his second stop of the day. Earlier this morning he was at another diner on Route 17 in Paramus, where he campaigned for candidates in District 38, where the races are considered more competitive.
Guadagno is also making the rounds on the campaign trail today. She's stopping at the Bergen County Republican headquarters and campaign offices in Livingston, Hamilton, Moorestown and Eatontown.
The Hamilton stop will put Guadagno on the ground in one of the state's competitive races, where Republican Richard Kanka, a pipefitter who advocated for sex offender notification laws after the murder of his daughter Megan, is trying to oust Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex).
Assemblymen Daniel Benson and Wayne DeAngelo (both D-Mercer) are up against Republicans Sheree McGowan and Wayne Wittman.