Murphy, Obama Rally Voters In New Jersey: 3 Things To Know

NEWARK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy’s re-election campaign got a big shot in the arm last weekend when former president Barack Obama made a trip to New Jersey.

On Saturday, Obama joined Murphy for an "early vote rally" at Weequahic Park in Newark (watch the video below). Attendance at the event was limited and open only to those with tickets due to coronavirus safety protocols. However, many more people gathered outside the event space in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the former president and hear what he was saying.

Obama last visited Newark in 2015 as part of his campaign to raise awareness about national criminal justice reform. He supported Murphy during his first gubernatorial race in 2017.

Obama’s visit comes at a time when the gap between Murphy and Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, is reportedly narrowing. A recent Emerson College/PIX 11 poll showed Ciattarelli just six points behind Murphy.

Here are three things to know about Obama’s latest trip to Newark.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN NJ

Saturday’s rally coincided with the start of early in-person voting in New Jersey, which is taking place for the first time in state history from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31.

• See related article: NJ Election Changes In 2021 (Early Voting, Vote By Mail)

Obama pointed out the landmark policy shift, telling people that “they don’t have to wait until Nov. 2” to cast their ballots.

“I supported [Murphy] when he ran for governor four years ago, because I knew he would make the people of New Jersey proud,” Obama said. “And that’s exactly what he’s done.”

“Do not sit this one out,” he added.

More than 100 people followed Obama's lead, casting early ballots at a polling station further down the road in the park, NJ Spotlight reported.

Other speakers at Saturday’s rally included Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., state Sen. Teresa Ruiz, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Montclair-born actor Kal Penn, who served on White House staff in the Obama administration and made his own pitch for early voting, the New Jersey Monitor reported.

“I hope you vote Jersey – which means early and aggressive,” the actor urged Saturday’s crowd.

Article continues below video

NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE EX-PRESIDENT

Murphy has been attracting some high-profile support in October, including President Joe Biden, who is touring New Jersey on Monday, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who paid her own visit to Newark and Montclair earlier in the month to push for COVID-19 vaccines and funding for child care. Both have endorsed Murphy in the 2021 election.

But not everyone was happy to see Obama stumping for Murphy on Saturday.

Both Obama and Murphy faced scattered boos from some people in the crowd, which the former president addressed with a challenge, CNN reported.

“Booing doesn't do anything,” Obama said when his comment on the “misguided policies” and “chaos” of the last four years raised a round of boos. “Go out there and vote!”

Obama later took a swing at Ciattarelli, bringing up the former state assemblyman’s appearance at a “Stop the Steal” rally to overturn former president Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.

Ciattarelli has acknowledged he attended the November 2020 event in Bedminster. But he has maintained that he believes Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the U.S., and has criticized Trump’s role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

But according to Obama, he isn’t buying Ciattarelli’s explanation.

“Apparently, Phil's opponent says he didn't know it was a rally to overturn the results of the last election,” Obama charged. “When you're standing in front of a sign that says 'Stop the Steal' and there's a guy in the crowd waving a Confederate flag, you know this isn't a neighborhood barbecue.”

“Come on, man … That's not what New Jersey needs,” Obama added.

Obama also urged New Jersey voters to ignore the “politics of meanness,” which he called “the path to ruin.”

Prior to Obama’s arrival in Essex County, Ciattarelli said he wasn’t worried, labeling Murphy’s re-election bid as a “sinking ship of a campaign.” Read More: Obama's Visit To Newark Shows Murphy Is Worried, Ciattarelli Says

Ciattarelli followed up his previous statement about Obama’s visit with an “open letter” to the ex-president (read it here).

He wrote:

“Until we bring New Jersey’s cities back and restore hope and opportunity to people, our broken state will be hard-pressed to ever reach its true potential. Sadly, under Governor Murphy, hope and opportunity have been sorely lacking … If I am fortunate enough to be elected by the people of our great state on November 2, I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss how we could work together to improve the lives of all our citizens and raise the level of discourse in our politics, as well.”

GALVANIZING THE LEFT: WILL IT HAPPEN?

During Saturday’s rally, Obama praised several progressive policies that Murphy rolled out during his first term as governor. They included instituting a “millionaire’s tax,” beginning the transition to a $15 minimum wage, restoring funding for Planned Parenthood, and making big investments in infrastructure, the environment and education.

“That track record matters because it tells you he doesn’t just talk the talk,” Obama told the crowd. “It tells you he walks the walk.”

Murphy’s campaign team has also trumpeted his stances and achievements on affordable housing, criminal justice reform, gun safety and the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, an article in The Nation suggested that Murphy may be the “most progressive governor in America,” adding that he’s seen a wave of positive support from “plenty of left-leaning legislators and activists” this fall – some of whom were once skeptical about the former Goldman Sachs investment banker.

Murphy has earned endorsements from New Jersey advocacy groups such as Blue Wave NJ, the National Organization for Women of New Jersey, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Working Families and NJ 11th for Change. He’s also seen endorsements from dozens of labor, health care, gun safety and social justice groups.

See Murphy’s re-election platform here. See Ciattarelli’s campaign platform here.

The need for a good turnout among progressives, Democratic Party members and those on the left of the political spectrum on Election Day is crucial – something that Murphy acknowledged during the rally.

“Our team shows up, we win,” Murphy said, adding that “the math is simple.”

According to New Jersey officials, about 12 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the June primary election. Those votes included 414,297 Democratic ballots and 347,856 Republican ballots.

According to a statewide voter registration summary released in October, there are 2,577,698 registered Democratic Party members and 1,505,265 Republican Party members in New Jersey, with an additional 2,396,910 “unaffiliated” registered voters.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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