Democrat NJ Senate hopefuls lean to the left of Obama

Democrat NJ Senate hopefuls lean to the left of Obama
Sunday July 21, 2013, 12:20 AM
By HERB JACKSON
“NJ/DC” COLUMNIST

No one should expect Democratic candidates in New Jersey’s special U.S. Senate primary to be criticizing President Obama this summer, especially since a recent poll showed Obama with a 56 percent job-approval rating statewide, and 88 percent approval among Democrats.

But on a variety of issues, the four candidates in the Aug. 13 Democratic primary — Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Rep. Rush Holt of Mercer County, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver of Essex County and Rep. Frank Pallone of Monmouth County — are staking out positions to the left of Obama.

It might surprise those who listen to Republican candidates and commentators, who often paint Obama as an ultra-liberal and the New Jersey Democrats as carbon copies, that there even could be political room to the left of the president.

But talk with environmentalists, labor union leaders or people still furious that the architects of the economic collapse never went to jail, and disappointment or frustration with Obama comes out.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/columnists/jackson/Jackson_Senate_hopefuls_lean_to_the_left_of_Obama.html#sthash.V6dTplAx.dpuf