By Matt Friedman

Presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Good Thursday morning!

Here’s a tweet to wake you up from FDU professor Dan Cassino, director of its poll: “I've been running survey experiments in NJ political polls for almost 20 years, and we've never gotten an effect as big as we see from asking about parental control of schools. This issue is just devastating for Democrats on the generic ballot.”

Here's the poll. The good news for Democrats: When voters aren’t first primed with a question about parental control on school curriculum, Democrats have a 42 percent to 26 percent lead on the generic ballot. The bad news for Democrats: When voters are primed, it becomes dead heat, at 33 percent Democratic to 32 percent Republican.

The question itself doesn’t mention sex ed. It’s phrased this way: “In recent years, there has been a movement to give parents more control over what is, and is not, taught in public schools in New Jersey. How much influence do you think parents of K through 12 students should have over what’s taught in their schools?”

But the fact that having that question mentioned first changes the results so much — especially among independents — suggests to me that the Republican attacks on the issue have gotten through to many voters.

For the future (hint hint, pollsters), I  would also be interested to see the difference between voters primed and not primed with an abortion-related question.  

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at [email protected].

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The vast majority of us are 100% fine with cracking open a Budweiser or a High Noon if front of the kiddos, or putting together a gin and tonic or a bourbon neat while the children do their homework at the kitchen table. But we’re not exactly fine — at least my peer group — lighting up a fattie or ripping a bong hit in front of our kids.” — The Trentonian’s Jeff Edelstein

WHERE’S MURPHY? Asia. ... Acting Gov. Tahesha Way is at Kean University at 11 a.m. to sign legislation on college campus mental health support

A message from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey:

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GUN SHY — “As N.J. prepares to vote, guns largely missing from campaign trail conversation,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “At this time last year, guns were all anyone could talk about in Trenton. The U.S. Supreme Court had struck down states’ restrictions on the public’s right to carry, leaving lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey scrambling. Democrats introduced a sweeping legislative package intended to avert the avalanche of gun violence they predicted, while Republicans presciently warned of the court challenges to come. Now, just three weeks before an election where all 120 legislative seats will be up for grabs, firearms have become a footnote in most campaigns, overshadowed by issues like abortion, offshore wind, and parental rights.”

LETTING DOWN INNER CITY KIDS WHO WANTED THE EXPANSION OF A GOLF COURSE FOR RICH PEOPLE — “State DEP begins long-awaited cleanup and restoration of Liberty State Park interior,” by The Jersey Journal’s Mark Koosau: “As trains gave way to highways and cars and the terminal was shut down in 1967, nature retook the land and decades have passed with only promises and hopes that the land inside the state’s most popular state park would be remediated. Wednesday, those wishes became a reality. Or at least it was a start. In a briskly and slightly cloudy afternoon in the park, just feet away from the fencing that marks the border of interior, the ceremonial dirt was officially dug out to mark the beginning of the long-awaited cleanup and restoration of the interior. … The interior will teem with wetlands and meadows, hilltops with breathtaking views of New York, and a miles-long walking and running trail network. It’s the first part of the DEP’s revitalization program for Liberty State Park. … The People’s Park Foundation, a group funded by billionaire golf course owner Paul Fireman, has lobbied for an interior of the park that would include large-scale facilities and recreational fields, but those ideas were rejected by the DEP. Jeff Tittel, the former director of the NJ Sierra Club, said the park needs more natural areas because people in Jersey City do not have easy access to any other natural woodland or wetland areas other than Caven Point.”

THE YEAR I STARTED REPORTING ON NJ POLITICS — State legislative campaign spending is highest since 2007, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: State legislative campaign spending is highest since 2007, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey Democratic legislative candidates, fighting to maintain their majorities, have raised and spent nearly three times their Republican rivals, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Election Law Enforcement Commission. The ELEC analysis also found that state legislative candidates have raised more money than they have in 16 years when adjusted for inflation. As of Oct. 6, candidates for the state Legislature had raised $37.6 million and spent $18.8 million, with another $18.8 million left in the bank.Of that, Democrats raised $27.8 million to Republicans’ $9.7 million, and spent $13.8 million to Republicans’ $5 million. Democratic candidates as of early October had $14.1 million in the bank to Republicans’ $4.7 million.

—“Democratic Assembly candidate wanted to oust white state employees, replace them with people of color” 

—“New Jersey will spend $25M to expand free, full-day preschool by January” 

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GETTING SALTY — “Jordan negotiates on SALT in bid to win over NY Republicans,” by Bloomberg’s Samantha Handler: “Speaker candidate Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told moderate New York holdouts he would support doubling the state-and-local tax deduction cap to $20,000, according to California Republican Mike Garcia. The deal was not accepted, Garcia said. New York Republicans Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito, and Mike Lawler have voted against Jordan twice, in part citing a need for the next House speaker to be open to raising the SALT cap, currently set at $10,000. LaLota has said he wants to see the speaker candidate understands the importance of the issue. Garcia said Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) backed Jordan’s offer. The $20,000 cap—$40,000 for joint filers—would have come as part of an end-of-year tax package. Garcia added that he was pleased with that proposal, saying it would be a win for SALT Republicans.”

DEAD AIR JORDAN — “Kean won’t talk about Jordan votes,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) has now voted for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House twice – and he’s not talking about it. Asked in the hallways of the Capitol about the speaker vote, Kean said nothing. The congressman has also not directly said anything via official statements about his support for Jordan, who lost a second speaker ballot earlier today and is now strategizing about how to proceed. The one thing Kean has said, in a mostly unrelated video posted to social media yesterday, is that ‘it’s important to get Congress working again and govern, so we can address the major issues in New Jersey and around the globe.’

—Opinion: “Christie spins on Jordan” 

GOOGLES HOW MANY GOLD BARS THAT IS — “Latest defense fund for Sen. Bob Menendez reports $274,500 in donations,” by Roll CAll’s Chris Marquette: “Supporters of Sen. Bob Menendez gave $274,500 to the New Jersey Democrat’s new legal defense fund through the end of September, a report filed with the Senate Office of Public Records on Monday states … The report shows donors include political action committees, a maritime union, individuals from his home state and others. … Individuals and organizations are capped at giving a maximum of $10,000 in a fiscal year to the trust. Donors who hit that limit include David Barry, who runs a residential real estate company in Hoboken, N.J., and Michael Barry, the CEO of a Hoboken real estate development company. Both have contributed to Menendez’s campaigns on a consistent basis … 10,000. VIBE PAC, tied to Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif, provided $5,000. William Tambussi of Brown and Connery LLP, a law firm in Westmont, N.J., gave the maximum. The International Longshoremen’s Association COPE, a large union based in North Bergen, N.J., that represents maritime workers, donated $10,000. George Norcross, a longtime leader in South Jersey Democratic politics and the brother of Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., gave Menendez $10,000.”

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IBUPROFENENDEZ — “New Menendez indictment creates headache for Democrats,” by The Hill’s Al Weaver: “Absent Schumer adding his name to the pro-resignation crowd, there is also no movement toward an expulsion vote. One Senate Democrat said Menendez’s situation was not brought up during Tuesday’s caucus-wide lunch. … Thus far, only one Senate Democrat has called for an expulsion vote to take place and say they would vote to expel Menendez: Sen. John Fetterman … The two senators also got into an in-person tiff as they rode the escalator in opposite directions to the Capitol from the Senate subway area Tuesday morning. According to sources, Fetterman told Menendez that Tuesday would be a great day to resign. Menendez reacted, telling Fetterman that he is hanging onto this issue too closely, echoing a line he told HuffPost a night earlier. Fetterman mockingly responded that he is ‘consumed’ by Menendez’s indictment. Throughout the rest of the day, Fetterman approached multiple reporters individually, including one from The Hill, with a line that he eventually posted on X, criticizing the prospect of Menendez attending the classified briefing on Israel. “I’m going to continue bringing it up again and again and again,” Fetterman said.”

—“Sen. Bob Menendez's co-defendants plead not guilty in federal bribery indictment” 

ROBERT BARON — “All but one N.J. member signs on to raise money for Rob Menendez,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Seven New Jersey House members will headline a high-dollar fundraiser for Rep. Robert J. Menendez … next week in Washington. The presence of his New Jersey colleagues, along with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), shows support from the delegation of Menendez’s own re-election in the weeks following his father’s indictment on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and illegally acting as an unregistered agent on the Egyptian government. The only New Jersey congressman not on the host list is Rep. Andy Kim”

—“North Jersey Dreamers pledge fight after Texas judge declares DACA illegal” 

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NO SANC YOU — Democratic State Senate candidate Caren Fitzpatrick voted in support of a resolution during Tuesday’s Atlantic County Commissioner meeting that urged “New Jersey should not be a sanctuary state.” Fitzpatrick, who sits on the county commissioner board which unanimously passed the ceremonial resolution, said the measure was “politically motivated” from her Republican rivals. “I actually felt a lot of it was intended to box me in to make a decision that would have given cover for politically motivated ads and mailers from my [state Senate] opponent, Senator [Vince] Polistina,” she said during the meeting. Republican Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson — a key backer of the resolution — denied her claims. “What a bizarre statement … It was not about Caren,” Levinson said in an interview. Polistina said there was “no truth” to Fizpatrick’s claims. “I had nothing to do with [the resolution] — she's seeing ghosts if that's what she's saying,” he said in an interview.

The 2nd Legislative District, where Polistina and Fitzpatrick are competing, is key battleground district in the state legislative elections. Immigration issues have become a key focus in the race after media reports suggested that the Biden administration was considering housing migrants at the Atlantic City International Airport — a proposal that has gone nowhere but received backlash from local Democrats and Republicans. The GOP-led county commissioners proposed an earlier version of the resolution earlier in October although it failed to pass. As a commissioner, Fitzpatrick voted against a resolution in 2019 that opposed making Atlantic County a sanctuary county. — Daniel Han

CAPE CRUSADERS— “Another legal challenge to NJ offshore wind project,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Tom Johnson: “The federal government is the latest party to be entangled in the maze of litigation surrounding New Jersey’s initial offshore wind farm — the Ocean Wind I project. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, commercial fishing and tourism interests and a conservation group joined Cape May County in accusing federal agencies of ignoring and violating laws designed to protect the environment and marine life. The dispute is the latest that threatens to delay the project, which also faces stiff financial challenges that have led officials from Ørsted, a Danish company, to consider pulling out of building the 98-turbine project. … ‘These are nonpartisan issues, with leading voices on both sides of the aisle in New Jersey and throughout the country now voicing the same concerns about the negative impacts of offshore wind projects that Cape May County has been raising for the past two years,’’ said Michael J. Donohue, special counsel for the county.”

TENAFLY — “Tenafly councilman, son released after hearing on child porn charges. Here's what happened,” by The Record’s Kaitlyn Kanzler: “A Tenafly councilman facing calls for his resignation and his son accused of possessing a large amount of child pornography will be released from jail, despite the harrowing images described during their detention hearing. The pair appeared in Bergen County Superior Court separately on Wednesday for a detention hearing before Judge David Labib. Jeffrey, 65, and Steven Grossman, 24, will be confined to their homes rather than held in jail while they await trial."

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— “Rochelle Park school board member running for Township Committee is charged with DUI”

—“Clifton councilwoman's husband, son to appear in court following fight at meeting” 

— “Jersey Shore town says beach erosion is ‘too dire’ for N.J. to prolong $33M legal fight”

—“Solomon: Jersey City BOE, MUA, & HCST largely non-compliant with ‘boat payment’ rules” 

—“Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez’s election fraud case is delayed — again” 

—“New West New York public safety director has $200k salary, official says” 

THE HEAD OF THE CRASS — “Anti-Hamas billboard on Route 80 in Bogota spurs over 100 calls to police before removal,” by The Record’s Kyle Morel: “A Route 80 billboard in Bogota critical of Hamas amid the militant group's ongoing war in Israel resulted in more than 100 calls to police before it was taken down by organizers, authorities said. The message along the highway overpass Queen Anne Road in Bogota read, ‘Oh, don't be naive. Hamas would chop your head off too’ borough police Sgt. Geoffrey Cole confirmed to NorthJersey.com Wednesday. The billboard is reportedly the work of JewBelong, an organization dedicated to welcoming people to Judaism and fighting antisemitism. … Bogota police received several initial calls for "reported threatening messages" on the billboard around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Cole said. Eventually, more than 100 people called the department to voice their displeasure about the sign.”

—“At least 2 students injured after school bus crashes into Edison home”

—“2 more N.J. men arrested in shooting death of Philadelphia police officer” 

—“Lauryn Hill and the Fugees gave their hometown a legendary tour opener” 

—“Bruce Springsteen Archives at Monmouth University to expand; includes 230-seat theater” 

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