What kind of U.S. senator will Cory Booker be?

What kind of U.S. senator will Cory Booker be? (via NJ.com)

NEWARK — Cory Booker, who captured national attention as Newark’s charismatic mayor, now joins the world’s most exclusive political club after a U.S. Senate campaign built on big ideas and the vow to be a healer in politically polarized Washington…

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Lonegan Concedes

photo credit: Charles Measley

Former Mayor Steve Lonegan conceded the Special U.S. Senate election to Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Lonegan was funny and gracious in his concession speech. “I said to myself, ‘Who wants that job anyway?'”

He thanked Governor Chris Christie for his ” bookend support” from his endorsement to robo calls.  Lonegan said he couldn’t expect anymore from Christie, “other than putting up lawn signs, and the thought of Christie running up and down the highway putting up lawn signs…”

Lonegan congratulated Booker and said , “May God be with him with the decisions he has to make.”

Lonegan said he has done his part in serving the country and is going back to the public sector.

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AP calls Special Senate Election for Booker

The Associated Press just called the NJ Special Election for U.S. Senate for Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

With 58% of the districts reporting, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is leading by 13%, 56%-43%.

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With 47% of the districts reporting statewide, Booker up by 13

Very slow reporting from Morris and Somerset, which should be strong for Lonegan,  Mercer slow to report, they should be strong for Booker.

Lonegan underperforming in Monmouth and Burlington.

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Statewide, it’s a 5 point race

With 30% of the districts reporting statewide, Cory Booker is leading Steve Lonegan 52% to 47%.

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Lonegan Leads By 9% In Monmouth County

GOP nominee for U.S. Senate Steve Lonegan is leading the vote count in Monmouth County 54% to 45% with 91% of the voting districts reporting.

The Monmouth voter turnout reported so far is 22%.

Lonegan needs a higher turnout and a wider margin in Monmouth County to win statewide.

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Early Lead for Booker

Gloucester County is the first to report results in the Special U.S. Senate Election.  Booker 51.3% with 2751 votes, Lonegan 45.7% with 2450 votes.

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Long Morning Lines in GOP Areas

By Matt Rooney, SaveJersey.com

Don’t get too excited, Save Jerseyans.

It’s very, very early. The polls are open until 8:00 p.m. tonight. Did I mention it’s early?

That being said, I’ve heard anecdotal but consistent turnout reports this morning that bode well for a strong Lonegan performance in today’s #njsen special election.

Example? More than one person has told me about voting lines wrapping out-the-door in Oakland, New Jersey. The Bergen County community of just under 13,000 is home to approximately 1,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats and voted 55.8% for John McCain in 2008.

PolitickerNJ is reporting robust Booker turnout in Essex County but MoreMonmouthMusings cites a source who says it’s unusually quiet in Newark’s East Ward…

We’ve received similar reports from some other Republican-leaning towns around the state such as the affluent bedroom community of Moorestown in Burlington County.

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Conflicting voter turnout reports out of Newark

PolitickerNJ is reporting that voters are coming out strong for Cory Booker in Newark’s North Ward, South Orange and Montclair.

However, a Newark resident who asked not to be named told MMM this morning that he was only the 9th voter in Newark’s East Ward at about 11:30 AM.

“The Cory Booker campaign is lackluster,” the Newark resident said, “no sound trucks, no signs, no door knockers, nothing. It’s weird.”

While all Independent polls tracking the Special Senate election have qualified their reports with the caveat that turnout for an election on the third Wednesday in October is unpredictable, most pollsters tracking have weighted their results with the assumption that urban turnout for Booker would be consistent with the vote that turned out for President Obama last November.

If the early turnout in Newark’s East Ward is indicative of urban turnout throughout the state, Steve Lonegan could be a U.S. Senator tomorrow.

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Lonegan, in Middletown, Tangles With Pix11 Anchor

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