Obama’s Visit To Newark Shows Murphy Is Worried, Ciattarelli Says

NEWARK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy has President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Barack Obama on his side as he runs for re-election in 2021. But to his Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, they’re all companions on a “sinking ship of a campaign.”

So far, it’s been a presidential month for the governor. Biden and Harris endorsed Murphy’s quest for re-election earlier in October. Just days later, Harris made a trip to New Jersey, visiting a COVID-19 vaccine site in Newark and a child care center at Montclair State University – with the governor on hand to eagerly greet the vice president. Read More: Kamala Harris Visits New Jersey To Push For Child Care, Vaccines

But the presidential nods of support weren’t over for Murphy.

Last week, the governor’s campaign team announced that Obama is planning to come to Newark to attend an “early voting rally” alongside Murphy. The former president also supported Murphy during his first gubernatorial race in 2017. Read More: Obama, Murphy To Hold 'Early Vote Rally' In New Jersey

However, the upcoming visit from Obama – or the recent visit from Harris – isn’t fazing Ciattarelli, according to his campaign team, which sent the following email to supporters on Saturday:

“First, the Murphy campaign had to call in help from Joe Biden. Then they requested Kamala Harris. And now, they had to ask Obama to come save their failing campaign. Let us be clear, they are struggling so badly that they had to request two presidents to come rescue their sinking ship of a campaign. They are worried, friend. For four weeks in a row we have outraised Murphy, we have three polls that say we are in a statistical dead-heat race, and Jack won both debates.”

Murphy holds a nine to 13-point lead over Ciattarelli according to a pair of recent polls from Stockton University and Monmouth University.

• See related article: Murphy Tops Ciattarelli In Latest Stockton Poll
• See related article: Murphy Has Big Lead; Ciattarelli Says Race Is Close

However, the New Jersey Republican Party has claimed that other polls show Ciattarelli is in a “statistical tie” with Murphy. Two of the polls in particular show that Murphy’s lead is down to three points or less, the NJGOP said in September.

“Naturally, there will be no shortage of other polls released in the coming days and weeks from outfits that have historically gotten it wrong time and again,” the NJGOP charged.

Ciattarelli, has spent more than $8.9 million throughout the general election, while Murphy has spent $5.7 million. Due to public financing restrictions, Murphy can spend another $9.9 million and Ciattarelli can spend $5.7 million in the remaining weeks of the election, OpenSecrets.org reported last week.

• See related article: NJ Governor Election: See Who Is Spending Campaign Cash In 2021

OBAMA’S VISIT TO NEWARK: CIATTARELLI SUPPORTERS SPEAK

Other Ciattarelli supporters have echoed the former state assemblyman’s call on social media. Recently seen online:

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