The 2009 Races

Let's not forget that, even though the big enchilada has already been decided, there are still a couple races going on this year. One of the biggest is going to be the race for governor of New Jersey, with incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine facing off--probably facing off, I should say--with US Attorney Chris Christie.

For the past two decades, New Jersey has been a microcosm for the decline and fall of the GOP in the Northeast. Back in the 80s, it tilted Republican. It voted for Reagan twice, and for Bush once; Republican Governor Tom Kean served two terms and left office as one of the most popular governors in America.

And it's all been going downhill since for the New Jersey GOP. Lately, they've been more intent on fighting amongst themselves than on beating the Democrats. The party's moderate and conservative wings have been at each others throats for years and years. That's why they've never been able to capitalize on the mistakes of the state's Democratic Party. And there have been quite a few of those mistakes. Remember Jim McGreevey, for instance?

This time around, the GOP has found the strongest possible candidate in Christie. Still, though, his path to the nomination isn't entirely clear. There's three other candidates running, and I'm sure each of them will try to claim the mantle of the "real conservative" in the race.

We'll see if the GOP tears itself apart yet again in the Garden State. If so, it would be a rather depressing validation of the GOP's moniker of "the Stupid Party." For more on the race, be sure to check out the always-authoritative Stuart Rothenberg.