Francis Bodine

Just days after losing one of the hardest fought legislative campaigns of 2007, outgoing Republican state Sen. James “Sonny” McCullough found himself on a flight to Myrtle Beach, S.C. with Democratic Assemblyman Jim Whelan, who had just ousted him from his state Senate seat by a 14 point margin.

Democrats had spent over $3 million to beat McCullough in one of the nastiest races in the state – succeeding in taking him out but not his Assembly running mates Vince Polistina and John Amodeo. But the two former opponents had, even by then, set aside their differences and were on friendly terms.

Burlington County Republicans held off an aggressive and well-financed challenge from South Jersey Democrats this week, winning races for State Senate and Assembly in the 8th district -- a GOP pickup after Francis Bodine switched parties -- and contests for Freeholder and Sheriff.  Glenn Paulsen, who returned as the key party leader after a brief hiatus and helped depose Burlington County GOP Chairman Michael Warner, seems to be strong -- despite a public feud with State Senator Diane Allen.

Republican-turned-Democrat Francis Bodine won just 39% of the vote in his bid for a State Senate seat -- not much better than the 33% that Democrat Thomas Price won against Martha Bark in 2003, without the benefit of campaign funds and staff. Bodine won the same percentage as Gary Haman did against Bark in 2001, and ran six points behind Democratic Senate candidate Marie Hall in 1997.

Democratic campaign spokesman Jeff Meyer said early intel shows high voter turnout in key Democratic Party towns in the 8th district: Evesham, Moorestown and Pemberton Township.

"That is a very good sign for us," said Meyer in a brief telephone interview from party headquarters in Mount Laurel.

Republican state Senate candidate Phil Haines remains the favorite against Assemblyman Francis Bodine, who switched parties earlier this year to run for the state Senate in district 8.

Republicans thought they hit op research gold when they realized that the husband of Democratic Assembly candidate Tracy Riley, running in the suddenly competitive eighth district, was the court-appointed lawyer representing one of the men accused on a plan to kill soldiers at Fort Dix.  In a mailer sent out last week, the three GOP candidates said: "Now, Tracy Riley's Family Law Firm is Defending Him … Tracy Riley: Whose values will she represent in Trenton? Ours? Or theirs?"

The Asbury Park Press has endorsed Jennifer Beck over Ellen Karcher, the Press of Atlantic City is backing Jefferson Van Drew and James Whelan over Nicholas Asselta and Sonny McCullough, respectively, The Record wants Joseph Ariyan instead of Gerald Cardinale, and the Courier Post and the Philadelphia Inquirer have endorsed Phil Haines over Francis Bodine.

The two candidates for State Senate in the eighth district have touted endorsements from the other party: Republican-turned-Democrat Francis Bodine has Sean Kennedy, the former Executive Director of the Burlington County Republican Committee, and Republican Phil Haines has former Pemberton Democratic Municipal Chairman Nando Avila, who was the Chief of Staff to ex-State Senator Catherine Costa.

The Courier-Post has endorsed Republican Phil Haines for State Senate, and Republican Dawn Addiego and Democrat Tracy Riley for Assembly in the 8th district.  READ

The race for State Senator in District 2 is a Toss-Up, while Nicholas Asselta and Ellen Karcher could be headed for defeat, according to a new PoliticsNJ.com Battleground '07 analysis.  READ

Senate President Dick Codey is taking an active role in some south Jersey campaigns previously considered to the territory of South Jersey boss George Norcross.

Codey is reportedly donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the ultra-competitive legislative races in districts one and two.