N. J. VOTERS HAVE CHANCE TO PICK CHRISTIE SUCCESSOR

It has been eight years since New Jersey voters first saw Chris Christie’s name on a ballot for governor. And while recent surveys strongly suggest they are anxious to see him go, there’s no indication Tuesday’s primary will be overwhelmed by people expressing their dissatisfaction with him and choosing his successor.

Primaries do not typically attract a large number of voters, and this year’s is expected to draw at most about 20% of registered voters, and that is an optimistic figure.

Despite Christie’s historic unpopularity — he dropped to 17% in January, a low matched only by former Democratic governor Brendan Byrne — his lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, remains the lead contender for the Republican Party nomination. She faces a challenge from Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a virtual unknown at the outset of the race who has closed the gap in recent polling.

The Democratic race is considered less of a contest than a coronation. Phil Murphy, a former executive at Goldman Sachs and U. S. ambassador to Germany, announced his campaign last year and has secured the support of all 21 county Democratic organizations. His challengers — state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, former Treasury undersecretary Jim Johnson and Assemblyman John Wisniewski — stepped up their criticism of Murphy as a wealthy hollow suit who is buying his political success.