Friday, January 04, 2008

How strong is Puharic?

Monmouth GOP Chairman's Adam Puharic rules for candidates are pretty much the same as last year's rules, with a few exceptions:

No mention of a contract, but still a promise not to oppose the chairman's selection in a primary. How will the US Senate candidates deal with that one? Will they screen anyway and not take that "promise" seriously or will they skip the screening?

No mention of background checks. Of course there will be background checks, as there should be. But apparently they won't be used as an intimidation tactic and poll tax. Call this progress, I guess.

No mandatory screening of incumbents. That's no surprise. Just a confirmation that last year's rules were written to get rid of Anna Little.

Only two candidates per office. Not a change in the rules, but will be a change in practice if it is enforced.

About the only safe bet for those handicapping Monmouth GOP politics is that there will be no primary for the US Congress seats.

Puharic's rules indicate his path to unity continues to be by controlling the process and purging dissent. As we have seen, he can control the party line, but he has little influence with the voters.

The first test of Puharic's strength will be the presidential primary on February 5. Can Puharic deliver Monmouth County for Mitt Romney? Puharic is a Romney supporter. State Senator Joe Kryillos, Puharic's mentor and guardian, is Romney's New Jersey chairman. If Puharic is unable to deliver Monmouth County for Romney, his opponents will rightly view him as vulnerable.

10 comments:

Honest Abe said...

"Puharic is a Romney supporter. State Senator Joe Kryillos, Puharic's mentor and guardian, is Romney's New Jersey chairman."

Alan Moretti, a/k/a Monmouth RastaMan, is also a Romney supporter.

"If Puharic is unable to deliver Monmouth County for Romney, his opponents will rightly view him as vulnerable."

Depending upon how the Rasta case plays out, Puharic's opponents may also rightly view him as vulnerable.

Anonymous said...

It truly is not fair to the process .... to which NJ is a virtual 'newborn' ... to infer that the presidential primary be a referendum on Puharic.

Giuliani has had the support of the entire Republican membership of the freeholders' board, sans Barham, for nearly a year. Giuliani has also had the support of the county clerk and sheriff, as well as the majority of GOP mayors, councils and municipal chairs. He came in and campaigned for the 12th's legislative team .. and they slaughtered the competition. To now equate allegiance to Giuliani with disdain for Puharic is a dangerous game. Keep the issues separate, unless you want to make Monmouth County the laughing stock of NJ on Feb. 5. This is the big-time, folks ... not a sideshow.

Art Gallagher said...

Giuliani has had the support of the entire Republican membership of the freeholders' board, sans Barham, for nearly a year. Giuliani has also had the support of the county clerk and sheriff, as well as the majority of GOP mayors, councils and municipal chairs.

Which goes to show that Puharic is out of step with many.

Keep the issues separate, unless you want to make Monmouth County the laughing stock of NJ on Feb. 5.

You mean more of a laughing stock that it already is?

Art Gallagher said...

Depending upon how the Rasta case plays out, Puharic's opponents may also rightly view him as vulnerable.

Welcome back Mr. President. I've missed you.

Anonymous said...

That's a real stretch to link Puharic's ability to deliver Monmouth to Romney as an indication of his strength as chairman--really big stretch. You're obviously grasping at straws.

Art Gallagher said...

That's a real stretch to link Puharic's ability to deliver Monmouth to Romney as an indication of his strength as chairman--really big stretch

Why is that? He is the chairman, and as another anonymous poster said, "this is the big time."

If Puharic can't deliver in the big time, how good is he?

You're obviously grasping at straws.

Judging by this morning's traffic and comments, this post is having the exact effect I hoped it would have.

William A. Newell said...

And good morning to you, Adam.

the inside airbather said...

I liked Ronald Reagan's photo shopped pics of Adam on Michael Angelo's David.

XOXOX Lisa

Anonymous said...

"Keep the issues separate, unless you want to make Monmouth County the laughing stock of NJ on Feb. 5."

"You mean more of a laughing stock that it already is?"

Yes. Much more.

Everyone knows Puharic is out of step with his constituents; he seems to derive pleasure from it. Why? Because he holds the cards on which 'locals' in the Monmouth GOP can run. Doesn't seem to matter to him if they can win; he just gets off on the power he has to run them. Who will jump ship to Romney for the right to run? That's the dangerous, foolish game that will hurt our county. The Monmouth Dems must be salivating at this internal nonsense. Only Rudy can turn this blue state red, with our without Puharic. He's a fool to think otherwise .... and is obviously unfit through his sheer immaturity and lack of strategic intellect to lead.

Anonymous said...

Puharic proved how incompetent he is with his treatment of Anna Little. to exclude a winner is really a show of ignorance. Changed my voter registration because of some of the nonsense by him and the now former freeholder director. These politicians make me sick and I question their reasoning if that,s what you call it. God save us from stupid republicans like some of this bunch.