Election 2010

PALLONE HOLDS ON

What’s Inside: e2 — On site with Frank Pallone e3 — Statewide results e4 — Reactions to Jim Cahill’s re-election e5 — Gender gap in politics e6 — Student election reactions e7 — On site with Anna Little

RAMON DOMPOR / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

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NOVEMBER 3, 2010

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Pallone clinches victory in 6th District

BY KRISTINE ROSETTE ENERIO UNIVERSITY EDITOR

RED BANK, N.J. — For the 10th election in a row, Frank Pallone reclaimed the congressional seat of New Jersey’s 6th District over Republican challenger Anna Little.

“We want Frank,” the crowd of supporters cheered in the 2250 Local Carpenters Union Hall minutes after the win was announced.

The 22-year incumbent claimed victory with a 9 percent lead over the Borough of Highlands mayor, a surprisingly slim margin for a long-time congressman.

Despite such a close race, Pallone said his win and the overall election sent a message.

“We can win when we have issues on our side and we’re doing the right thing for the average American,” Pallone said.

With two more years on Capitol Hill, Pallone said he intends to continue his work with developing the middle class.

“As we move forward with the countr y, in terms of what Congress and the president has done within the last few years, we really were trying to stabilize the economy,” he said. “We were trying to grow the middle class.”

The role of a congressman is to essentially protect the average American from large corporate entities, Pallone said.

“If the big banks and the financial institutions on Wall Street are not doing the right thing and causing the economic downturn we have to reform the system,” he said.

He extended the concept to the current health care system and said that if health care continues to be unaffordable for average citizens, it must face reform as well.

The high unemployment rate is one of the biggest problems America faces today, Pallone said.

He plans to address this problem based around his campaign mantra “Make it in America,” the belief that goods should be produced on United States soil.

To put his words into action, Pallone intends to plug up legislative loopholes that send jobs overseas and establish a national manufacturing policy as well as a fair trade policy.

“What we don’t need is those policies expressed by the tea party movement, which basically says there shouldn’t be any government regulation,” he said. “We should repeal the Wall Street reform. We should repeal the health care reform.

Basically, get rid of corporate income tax, get rid of any income taxes.”

Pallone said these ideologies expressed by his tea-partybacked opponent are detrimental to the middle class.

“They’re not good for the middle class,” he said. “We need to have a type of government that responds to the average person and protects the average person from these diffuses … of the special interests.”

Tom Bucco, council representative for the Carpenters Local Union 2250, said Pallone has been a friend to all building trade workers, as well as all working class people in Monmouth County.

“Frank is from Long Branch. … He’s a good, old homegrown boy,” Bucco said. “I think he’s down home, good-hearted. He’s always welcome here in our union home.”

Although Pallone won by such a slim margin, Bucco said he was not nervous for the incumbent at any point of the evening.

Liz Duthie, Pallone’s campaign manager, said she was mostly happy for the constituents of the congressman’s district “We know he was always the right choice for the 6th District, and he’s cer tainly going to continue his initiatives in Congress, to bring green alternatives back and to make sure we’re bringing jobs back here in New Jersey,” Duthie said.

Present at his colleague’s election, Sen. Frank Lautenberg admitted he was apprehensive for Pallone’s race and came to show support.

“Pallone’s race is a signal to the other side that no matter how rough the campaign is, no matter how tough the vernacular is, the fact is that we stand on the issues, and we’re going to recover from whatever happens down in Washington,” Lautenberg said.

“It certainly was a fight but we’re glad to have a victory tonight.”

RAMON DOMPOR / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR / ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Congressman Frank Pallone keeps his seat as representative for New Jersey’s 6th District. Supporters celebrate the incumbent’s 12th term in a row last night in the 2250 Local Carpenters Union Hall in Red Bank. Pallone succeeded his opponent Anna Little, the Borough of Highlands Mayor, by a 9 percent margin.

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

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NOVEMBER 3, 2010

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GRAPHIC BY JOVELLE ABBEY TAMAYO / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Cahill begins sixth term as New Brunswick mayor

BY COLLEEN ROACHE ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Jim Cahill, running unopposed as the incumbent candidate in New Brunswick’s mayoral race, will spend his sixth term in office serving the people of the city following yesterday’s election.

After winning the June 8 primary — the only contested primary in the county, in which Democratic challenger Patricia Bombelyn did not secure enough votes to have her name on the ballot — Cahill was unofficially assured another four years as mayor of New Brunswick.

“A New Brunswick leader needs to be somebody who can identify those problems, tackle them, not just talk about them, but make things happen to improve them,” Cahill said in April after he had announced plans to run again in his 20th year of service. “I can tell you that under my leadership as mayor of New Brunswick, our city has transformed from a city of decay and flight.”

Forty-year New Brunswick resident Chicago, 60, who goes only by that name, said he could find nothing negative to say about Cahill’s performance in changing the city for the better during his time as New Brunswick’s leader.

“New Brunswick was ready to close down,” he said. “All the stores were vacant. It was an inner city like Camden. Now we have skyscrapers, employment [and] the lowest taxes in Middlesex County.”

In terms of parks, recreation and public services in general,

the quality of what is offered in New Brunswick exceeds their counterparts in other cities, Chicago said. The city also provides a welcoming community for those new to the country.

“The Mexican community that came here — we don’t throw them out, we don’t shun them,” he said.

Although the city has challenges it must face, Cahill finds ways to deal with them, rendering complaints about his performance futile, Chicago said.

“Anybody can throw mud on the wall, but it has to stick for it to have merit,” he said.

Still, there are some who say they are unsatisfied with the actions, or lack thereof, Cahill has taken in the past.

Amina Benmoussa, who moved into a house in the city five years ago, said she plans to move elsewhere soon, as New Brunswick does not offer the kinds of programs and services she would like to see available to her sons, one of whom is a special needs child.

“For kids, they don’t have anything here,” Benmoussa said.

“That’s why they go out and learn things they shouldn’t.”

Benmoussa said the absence of engaging after-school programs or a youth center, like a YMCA, in New Brunswick takes away from the benefits of living in the city, and when young people do not have access to such programs, the community as a whole can fall victim to criminal activity.

Benmoussa did not feel compelled to go out to the polls yesterday to support local officials and expressed concern that

those who hold public office in New Brunswick are too disconnected from the city’s residents.

“Send people to talk to us,” she said.

Franklin resident Herminio Ramos, 66, who first came to New Brunswick from Puerto Rico

when he was 17 years old, agrees with Cahill’s idea that the city has changed — but not necessarily all for the better.

Ramos occasionally makes trips back to the city and said sanitation and immigration are two major problems.

“It used to be clean. Now it’s filthy,” Ramos said.

Although Ramos did not know much about Cahill himself, he said he does not expect conditions in the city to improve.

“New Brunswick is going to get worse,” he said.

THE DAILY TARGUM

Mayor Jim Cahill will serve his 20th year as the mayor of New Brunswick. Cahill ran unopposed this election after his opponent Patricia Bombelyn did not receive enough votes to appear on the ballot.

WE CANNOT REPEAT VOTING ERRORS I

am, among many things, a fairly liberal Democrat. I feel that anyone who has read one of my past columns would clearly be able to connect the dots and reach that conclusion. I have a certain view of the world, of America and of the state. If presented with new information, I have no problem with altering my view to align itself best with the facts at hand. There are many like me in this country, especially at a fairly liberal state school like the University. However, there is one thing that sets me apart from people who feel as strongly as I do in the realm of politics.

I didn’t vote.

Yes, I’m fully aware that this makes me a tacit hypocrite by writing so much about the power of social change but being too lazy to partake in it. In fact, I am not even registered to vote in New Brunswick. I’m registered in Camden County, where I live when not at school.

Did I fill out an absentee ballot? Of course not. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, I’m actually in the majority of people my age.

In the United They don’t vote. It ficult to remedy, it does not explain the States, the supbecomes a cyclical root of this article and the explanation posed bastion of problem. If a senabehind the also-staggering age gap in votdemocracy, only tor has to appeal to ing. It doesn’t begin to explain why I, as 48.5 percent of 18a large amount of an educated white male in 20th-century 24 year olds vote in people, he or she America (which is significant only statistithe election. Only would be most logcally, not qualitatively) did not go out and 58.5 percent of the CODY GORMAN ical to not appeal vote today. The reasons? population at that to minorities. It Apathy and overload. Most Americans age is even regissounds Draconian aged 18-24 are able to sum up their polittered to vote. This is a drastic drop from and Machiavellian, but it is true — in ical views with one word, usually all other age demographics, where the 2009, Black and non-Hispanic white “Democrat” or “Republican.” When voter turnout and registration rate are at Americans made up exactly 78 percent asked to expand on that, there is normalleast 10 percent higher in ever y age of the U.S. population, according to the ly a few words regarding the general demographic. It’s not an uncommon pheU.S. Census Bureau. If less than half of stances of the party but nothing more. nomenon. In fact, it’s not even a phenomthe remaining 22 percent of the populaThe fact remains that most young enon — it’s commonplace. tion doesn’t even bother voting, what’s Americans, despite having the power to To start, there are complete gaps in the use in appealing to them? The lack have their voice be heard, remain unenvoter turnout among races: 66.1 percent, of attention from the people in lightened about the political climate and 64.7 percent, 49.9 percent, and 47.6 perCongress thereby is conducive to even social issues regarding the nation. It cent represented total voter turnout (age lower voter turnout in minorities, who takes an enormous movement, as was 18 and over, men and women) respectivehave no desire to vote for predominantshown by the Obama campaign, for ly in white, black, Hispanic and Asian votly white men who have no interest in young and minority voters to be mobiers. What accounts for the sizable gap? minorities’ affairs. lized. When it comes to Most notably, black voters are beginThis is compounded procedural policy, most “Most Americans young people could care ning to close the fabled white-black voting by the fact that many votgap, with their respective populations ing districts, despite aged 18-24 are able less. Each day we 18-24 only separated by 1.4 percent turnout. being forced to by the year-olds, who spend the to sum up their However, less than half of Hispanic and Voting Rights Act, had most time exposed to popAsian Americans turn out to vote. This is English-only ballots until ular media, are bombarded political views most likely due to the lack of voter mobilthis decade.

Many with empty, misleading ity, the reluctance of campaigning to said Republican candidates and attacking political ads with one word.” minorities and some mildly racist barrieven include in their platthat sour the political ers across the land. Many immigrant form that all ballots in the process and the beauty of or first-generation Hispanics and nation should be cast in English only. democracy. The American political Asians lack the familiarity with the This is all despite the fact that English machine has created disgust in voters American voting system, and many is not the of ficial language of the and discouraged the young and the are unable to vote based on wildly United States. In fact, the United States minorities — those who should be unfair work schedules. has no of ficial language in its appealed to the most — from taking part.

Another reason for low minority Constitution. Were these xenophobic Unless the apathetically democratic like turnout is the lack of addressing Congressmen and women to follow the myself begin to make that change, this needs by the ver y people running for rule of “speak the language of the nation will be doomed to repeat its voting office. Many Congressional candidates land,” we’d all be speaking Cherokee or errors of the past. waste no time appealing to minority votAlgonquin right now.

Cody Gorman is a School of Arts and ers — barring an occasional photo While the racial barriers involved with Sciences junior majoring in political science. opportunity — for one good reason: the voting process are numerous and dif-

The Tuning Fork

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

LESS WOMEN SUPPORT MCMAHON One of the largest gender gaps among voters is evident in the Connecticut U.S. Senate race between Republican Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, according to a press release from the Center of American Women and Politics.

In the race for the Senate seat, 32 percent of women supported McMahon, while 63 percent of women voted for Blumenthal, according to the release.

Blumenthal, the leading candidate, received a greater percentage of women’s votes than men’s, creating a 13-point gap between the genders.

Women vote based on issues and the ideology of the Democratic Party and support the issues that matter to them, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics.

The New York Times found earlier in the fall that McMahon had a 20 to 25-point gender gap just a few months ago, Walsh said.

“It was a huge, quiet staggering,” Walsh said. “But it wasn’t really surprising because where she has made her money and where she has her reputation is in an industry that a lot of women can’t really wrap their heads around. She’s somebody they’re not really interested in and don’t support.”

Blumenthal won the Connecticut Senatorial seat and defeated McMahon in yesterday’s election, according to the New York Times election results.

— Reena Diamante

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

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Voting gap shows women lean toward Democrats

BY REENA DIAMANTE CORRESPONDENT

If the Democratic Party wanted to maintain its dominance in Congress, focusing its attention toward motivating female voters might have been an effective way.

The gender gap in voting shows there is a difference between the percentage of women and the percentage of men voting for a particular candidate, according to a Center for American Women and Politics press release. Women are more likely than men to support the Democratic candidate, despite the gender of the candidate.

“The reason why the gender gap exists is because women tend to see themselves as more economically vulnerable and that they need at some point in their lives the social safety net,” said Debbie Walsh, director of CAWP. “[They need] public support for things like Social Security, Medicare [and] Medicaid. The Democratic Party is the party that is more likely to support those kinds of programs.”

There was confusion in this year’s midterm election when people questioned why women were not supporting the several female candidates in the election, Walsh said. CAWP discovered it is not about whether the candidate is a woman but whether the candidate is a Republican.

“It’s about women as voters and the impact of women voters have on the outcome of elections and the fact that women vote differently since 1980,” Walsh said.

“We’ve seen women voting

differently than men since Ronald Reagan’s election.”

The philosophy of the Republican Party, exemplified in Reagan’s presidency, is less government, while Democrats push for a larger role for government, Walsh said.

People believe women vote Democrat for social issues, like abortion, because they are voting about their and their family’s economic security, she said.

Women also vote at higher rates than men do, and there are more women than there are men, Walsh said. They not only are a larger percentage overall but a larger block of voters.

“The fact that they vote differently and at higher rates can really have an impact on the outcome of an election,” she said.

There is an enthusiasm gap of women voting in the election, she said. The gap could cost the Democrats if they cannot get those women voters, particularly African-American and single women, to the polls.

“So that’s where you’ve seen a lot of energy in the last couple of weeks of President [Barack] Obama going out to speak about women’s economic conditions and economic equity issues,” Walsh said.

A reason women are not voting is because Democrats in general this election are less enthusiastic compared to Republicans.

“The more conservative voters are very engaged and energized. I think that it is the vote that has been between the tea party and all of the activity on that side,” Walsh said.

“Sometimes it’s easier to be the

GETTY IMAGES

Women are more likely to support a Democrat, despite the candidates’ gender. For example, more women supported Richard Blumenthal rather than Republican Linda McMahon, above.

party out of power, you have something you can run against.”

CAWP looked at the different statewide polls from various sources and compared the two different candidates from each state, she said. The center looked at the leading candidates and compared the voting percentage of men and women. The difference in points is the gender gap.

There are some female University students that would vote for a Democratic candidate in an election as opposed to a Republican.

“If there were a female Republican versus a male

Democrat, I would vote for the Democrat just because I’m more inclined to those views,” said Kemaly Khan, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore. “Like health care is a main issue now.”

Other University students familiarize with the issues Democrats fight for.

“The Democratic Party does pay more attention to [women’s issues],” said Julie Chatzinoff, a School of Arts and Sciences senior. “That’s a really big generalization, but as someone who cares about women’s rights, I vote Democrat.”

NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW FUTURE H

people, when most As a result of appy day after Election Day. And I of the population irresponsible feddo mean happy. Yesterday was the wanted Congress to eral spending, one day in two years that throw the bill in the combined with Americans get to tell politicians to shove it, trash. The next the sleazy instead of the other way around; yesterday major victory will be methods was Judgment Day. Although each conwhen she is kicked used to pass gressman was held accountable for his — JAMES WINTERS off her throne of the health or his party’s — actions, this midterm elecself-righteousness care reform tion was not about individual races, it was and narcissism. bill, the health care bill itself, a really a national referendum on the reckA third failure, albeit a general trend stagnant economy and an ultiless, wasteful and poorly engineered polirather than one legislative act, was the caremately failed stimulus act, cies of the Democratic Party. That party less public spending. In just one year, Americans have reached a new suffered a serious political beating from President Barack Obama drove the federal level of political distrust and frustrathe American people, and they deserved it. deficit to a record high of more than $1.4 tion. Yesterday that frustration maniThrough the past two years, the presitrillion. It is clear that the president and his fested itself in a very high unemploydent, the speaker and the Senate majority Congress have no respect for Americans’ ment rate for incumbent Democrats. leader have navigated this country down a hard-earned income, it seems as if they feel Americans do not love Republicans, and dangerous course that has cost millions of entitled to more and more of it. The nationthe Grand Old Party does not necessarily jobs, trillions of dollars and has caused al debt is currently measured at $14.3 trilmerit any prizes. But frustrated voters immeasurable damage to our economy and lion, which is about 84 percent of gross were looking for any way to remove the future. The first major failure happened only domestic product. Even if the government incompetent Democratic representatives one month into the president’s term when immediately slashes from Washington, and the GOP was he signed the $787 billion spending, it will take rewarded with the chance to redirect the stimulus package that stimnation’s social and economic directions. ulated nothing but the “Yesterday’s midterms decades to absolve that debt — and every year that A question worth pondering is what national debt. It did not boiled down debt stands, billions more Republican priorities will be when they prompt significant conto fiscal austerity.” will be spent on interest seize control of the House of sumer spending, investalone. Tangible cash is Representatives. After sitting in the back ment or any positive ecotaken from the pockets of seat for two years, essentially powerless to nomic growth. Most of the average American families to pay for the the whims of the liberal party, Republicans taxpayers’ money went to providing tempofailed policies of an inept government. It is are ready to enact change that will actualrary jobs for marginally skilled laborers to no wonder people are fed up with a huge ly help this country. Certainly a hallmark repair infrastructure. Moreover, because all public sector. Deficit spending is overtly of many conservative campaigns has been of the funding was borrowed money, and unsustainable and damaging, and it needs the repeal of the health care bill, but that borrowing requires paying interest, eventuto be abandoned. will not happen with Obama in office, and ally the effects of this project will cost Yesterday’s midterms boiled down to it is highly unlikely that two-thirds of both Americans far more than $1 trillion. fiscal austerity, and Democrats clearly Houses will vote to override a veto.

The second, perhaps most notoriously don’t know what that word means. No Congress would be more productive letunpopular and hyper-partisan, failure was doubt their idea of financial frugality is ting the state attorney generals rip the bill the health care reform bill. This act unconcentered on raising taxes to feed the apart legally and focus on other issues. stitutionally mandates individual consumpparty’s insatiable appetite for spending Their pledge to America is what most peotion of health care insurance and was deviand ignores the worth of expenditure cuts. ple have been demanding from Congress ously passed by only 5 votes in the Senate Americans know that type of policy is sysfor years: less government intrusion on with the exclusive support of Democrats. temically doomed for failure — even if private affairs, fiscal responsibility, politiHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi was proud to Democrats do not. cal transparency, comprehensive tax cuts announce a major victory for the American

From the Desk of ...

and incentives for small businesses that promote entrepreneurship. If the Republicans are successful in implementing useful changes with respect to the economy, energy reform, tax reform, et cetera, the president will probably be looking for a new job come 2012. One can only hope.

New leadership will bring a new dynamic and a new flight crew to this country in January. The future looks a lot brighter than the past, and though we should not dwell on past failures, we can make sure they are not repeated. With the Democratic Party out of power, the effectiveness of checks and balances will improve, and cooperation and synergy rather than exclusion will be bolstered.

Congress will be able to make forward progress based on private market incentives and not the God-complex of big government. The Democrats had free reign and used it in the most detrimental fashion. Next year they’ll be in the back seat, and they better get used to it.

James Winters is a School of Engineering junior majoring in biomedical engineering.

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

“I didn’t look into the issues this year and didn’t get around to it, not enough time.”

LAUREN HOWELL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SENIOR

“I voted in Toms River.

I’d like to see a shift in power in local elections because I feel like those are the most important.”

BRIAN CANARES GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

“I was going to vote but I had class and work. I was hoping the Democrats would hold on, but probably not.”

GETTY IMAGES

Some University students said they felt they were too busy or too uninformed to make an educated decision in yesterday’s statewide and U.S. Congressional midterm elections.

JACOB CARLIN SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES JUNIOR

Many U. students absent at polls

BY RYAN FLOOD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Some University students felt they did not have enough time to vote and that there was not enough information readily available to hit the polls for yesterday’s midterm elections.

The University could foster a student body better prepared to vote if it provided more information about the election around campus, some students said.

“There was not too much information on the election, especially candidate-based,” said Jason Dacruz, a School of Arts and Sciences junior.

“People approached me to register, but that was it, pretty much bare minimum.”

Some students’ belief that no vote is better than an uneducated vote prevented them from entering a booth altogether.

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Jon Wu said he did not vote because he did not take the time to look into the issues.

But other students did find time to conduct research and vote based on the viewpoints and goals of individual candidates rather than party platforms.

Shanna Keller, a graduate student in the School of Communication and Information, voted for both Republicans and Democrats in the election. She would like to see issues regarding the economy and education addressed in the future.

Some students said interest in the election cor relates with par ticipation.

“If students are interested in politics, they probably do research. Otherwise, they probably will not,” said Natasha Dudzinski, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student.

Poll workers observed that students’ reactions on the election were mixed and many students were either disinterested in or unknowledgeable about election issues.

“Overall the student reaction was 50-50,” said Adena Tomas, a poll worker at the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus. “Some students were knowledgeable about the election, but a lot were not.”

Although some students did not vote in this particular election, they plan on doing so in the future, when they have more time and information.

Angelika Wawrzyszko, a School of Ar ts and Sciences sophomore, did not vote because she did not know about key issues. She said she would have voted with more information and plans on voting in the future.

88

10

The number of polling locations for students on campus

The percent of young voters who said they were likely to vote in 2008

59

The percent of young voters who said they were likely to vote in 2010

“I guess since it wasn’t a presidential election I didn’t pay as close attention.

I definitely think I should have.”

YARA CALCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES JUNIOR

“I had class all day and I’m actually registered at home.

I feel bad because I’ve voted before.”

JOY WILSON SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES JUNIOR

“I didn’t vote. I had a busy school schedule and I had to do some last-second assignments. I feel like school should give us a day off.”

ALAN ZELTSER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SENIOR

“I had no idea there was actually an election going on. I’ve been so out of it with finals and my job.”

ALAN GANO RUTGERS COLLEGE SENIOR

Sources: njpirgstudents.org, ruvoting.rutgers.edu

“I did vote.

I think a lot of people ... think the presidential elections are the only ones you need to go out and vote for.”

MARK JENKINS — RUTGERS COLLEGE SENIOR

“I’m not registered in this county.

I didn’t consider an absentee ballot, but it just came up on me.

I’ll vote next time.”

SHANNON PORTER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SOPHOMORE

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NOVEMBER 3, 2010

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Little faces defeat to Congressional incumbent

BY DEVIN SIKORSKI ASSOCIATE NEW EDITOR

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. — Republican candidate Anna Little lost to Democrat Frank Pallone last night after months of campaigning for the congressional seat.

Although the race was close at times, Pallone ultimately secured 55 percent of the votes while Little was able to obtain 43.6 percent of New Jersey’s 6th District voters.

With her supporters sporting nametags labeling themselves as “Anna’s Army,” Little received applause as she approached the microphone at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., to deliver her concession speech.

With the company of her family, Little gave thanks to her supporters for months of support and called it a “gift from God.” “It is one thing to see a packed room when you are about to declare victory. It is very different to see a packed room when you are 14 points short,” she said.

“Ever ything we have accomplished is a foundation [and] we are not finished yet.”

As the crowd of supporters chanted her name, Little praised their ef for ts to forget about their busy schedules and help with her campaign. “[But] it wasn’t just that. I know you love me but you love your countr y. You remember your histor y,” she said. “You know where you started out and you know what our founding fathers gave up. You care about the future of your children and grandchildren. That’s what we’re about.”

Little also took time to officially adopt the hundreds in attendance as part of her family, saying their efforts during the campaign produced close ties that could not be broken.

“We’re calling this branch of the family ‘Anna’s Army,’” she said. “We’re going to look at tonight as a huge victory.”

Noting the fact Pallone maintained tight control over his seat in Congress for 22 years, Campaign Chair Leigh-Ann

Bellew said Little knew the race was not going to be easy.

“This was going to be a tough race and we knew it all along. I knew it the day that I asked [Little] to run in the primar y that this would be a tough race and it wouldn’t be easy,” she said. “But I knew that she was the right candidate and she had the right message.”

Although the election did not prove successful, Bellew said the mass support Little built over the campaign was a victor y in and of itself.

“The most amazing part was the citizens, voters and constituency getting so involved. We had at times 150 people out on a weekend to walk. We walked to Middletown and knocked on 5,000 doors before lunchtime,” she said. “That just tells you the enthusiasm [for Little].”

Bellew added that instead of solely visiting a polling booth, many of Little’s supporters took part in active campaigning for the first time.

“I would say most, maybe 80 or 90 percent, have never done this before in their lives,” she said. “[So] the voters and the constituents of Congressional District 6 are winners because they got out there and they did something we haven’t seen in a very long time.”

The reason Little created more support than expected was not because she was the lesser of two evils, but rather she was a candidate voters could believe in, Bellew said.

“She has the right message and she doesn’t mince words. I think people are looking for a representative who shoots straight,” Bellew said. “And even if they shoot wrong some times, they apologize if they do and they set the record straight.”

Supporters saw Little as someone they could relate to, comparing her popularity to that of Gov. Chris Christie’s in the national landscape, Bellew said.

“What they see of him is that he just says what’s on his mind or what he believes. It’s very colorful but it’s not that political doublespeak,” she said. “How many

JEFFREY LAZARO / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

of us actually think in that political doublespeak?”

Bellew also used the mass number of suppor ters Little compiled during her campaign to exemplify how New Jersey, typically a blue state, is currently in the middle of a political transformation.

“New Jersey has long lived under more liberal policies … and the results of those policies [have citizens] saying let’s give those other ideas a try and see if they work,” she said. “The definition of insanity is to do something over and over again and expect a different result.”

But Jim McCabe, a Little supporter from Westfield, N.J., said this political transformation is not contained within the borders of

JEFFREY LAZARO / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

New Jersey but rather is spreading across the nation.

“It’s a pivotal time for our country,” he said. “I think these midterm elections are going to show that our country is moving away and rejecting what [President Barack] Obama has been putting up and moving toward a more conservative message for the country.”

McCabe, 23, added that although Pallone succeeded in securing his seat in Congress, the suppor t Little created through her campaign should send a loud message to the winning candidate.

“The support should speak volumes to him,” he said. “[Pallone will] say, ‘What I am doing is not right and that’s not

what the people want. Let me take a step back and see what I’m doing wrong and be the voice for the constituents and be the reason they elected me.’”

Although Bellew was unsure of whether or not Little would consider r unning again, she said Little would receive much suppor t due to her ef for ts during the campaign for a seat in Congress.

“The citizens of the 6th District have been so active in this campaign and have felt part of their government. I think that they have a great deal of gratitude for [Little],” Bellew said.

“Whatever she chooses to do, I’ll be supporting her and I know that there will be many [others as well].”

JEFFREY LAZARO / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Anna Little, Borough of Highlands mayor, concedes the election to Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone last night at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. Little obtained 43.6 percent of the 6th District voters to Pallone’s 55 percent. Supporters say they would remain loyal to Little if she were to run in the future.

JEFFREY LAZARO / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER