Donald Trump Looms Large In NJ Governor's Race: Here's Why

His name isn't on the ballot. And he doesn't appear to be inspiring those who oppose him - or support him - to go the polls on Tuesday. But those who have been observing the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial race say President Donald Trump's presence still looms large in this year's election.

In fact, Trump appears to be overshadowing any of the issues that have been at the forefront of the race to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Chris Christie. Indeed, some argue that even Christie's deep unpopularity - an issue raised by Democratic candidate Phil Murphy - isn't having the impact that, perhaps, it should have on the race because of Trump.

"People are just not engaged in this election," said Monmouth University poll director Patrick Murray.

From Murray's perspective, Trump is using up "all of the available space" in people's minds when they look, read or hear about politics. The result is that there's no time for anyone to focus on a contentious gubernatorial race that has focused on property taxes and sanctuary cities for immigrants.

Murray cited a Monmouth poll regarding the issues raised in the governor's race that showed only 12 percent of voters even knew Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, 58, has a plan to deal with New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Similar apathy was shown for positions promoted by Murphy, 60, a former executive at Goldman Sachs.

Rider University political scientist Ben Dworkin said Trump also has dominated the media's attention, and shifted it completely away from races in New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere.

"He sucks all the oxygen out of the room," Dworkin said.

Murray and Dworkin said Trump's media dominance could easily push the vote turnout to its lowest level ever, saying it could hit as low as 37 percent. The turnout has steadily declined over the past 25 years, from 65 percent in 1993 and 56 percent in 1997 to 47 percent in 2009 and 40 percent in 2013.

Both Murphy and Guadagno hoped to break through that Trump-media ceiling, focusing on issues that have inspired a lot of passion on the nation, state and local level.

CHRISTIE: Murphy has said that a Guadagno administration would essentially be a third term of the Christie administration, and he has linked the lieutenant governor to the infamous "Bridgegate" scandal that led to the convictions of three Christie aides. Guadagno has distanced herself from Christie, even as the incumbent governor has said he plans to vote for her.

TAXES: Guadagno is promoting a plan that she says will cut property taxes for the middle class - a plan that Murphy says could cost the state more than $1 million. She wants to cap school property taxes and offer a tax credit of up to $3,000. Murphy says he would increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations. He also wants to legalize marijuana and tax it to help pay for education and other programs.

SANCTUARY CITIES: Guadagno has said she would seek to withhold state funding for New Jersey cities that have "sanctuary city" policies. She offered a "proposed sanctuary city ban" that would require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials and run background checks in the state's prisons and jails. Murphy has said he's open to making New Jersey a "sanctuary state" to protect undocumented immigrants.

PENSIONS: Guadagno says while the state should honor the commitment it made to people currently in the system, according to nj.com, but make changes for new hires. Murphy wants to fully funding the state's pension system.

EDUCATION: Guadagno wants to reform the state's school funding formula to make sure millionaires pay their fair share, and direct the state education commissioner to establish an administrative hearing process for funding. Murphy has criticized Christie for underfunding the state's school formula by $9 billion over the last eight years, according to nj.com, and do away with PARCC tests.

GUNS: Murphy says he would strengthen gun laws while Guadagno believes that the laws currently on the books are fine as they are.

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