NEW JERSEY
14 Electoral Votes 
link to clickable map


Gov. Chris Christie was widely mentioned as a possible running mate for Mitt Romney (and earlier, in 2011, there were several efforts to draft him as a candidate for president).  As the campaign progressed in the fall, Christie still figured in as a surrogate.  However, a week before Election Day he drew the full media spotlight with his effusive praise of President Obama's handling of Hurricane Sandy ("outstanding" and "incredibly supportive").  Christie's words and tarmac appearance with Obama rubbed many Republicans the wrong way. 

Hurricane Sandy posed challenges not only for the campaigns but for election officials as well.  The state allowed residents displaced by the storm to vote by e-mail and fax (directives).

The principals made a smattering of visits to New Jersey during the last seven months of the campaign (April 10, 2012 to Nov. 6, 2012 >), mostly for fundraisers.


THE DEMOCRATS
President Barack Obama
October 31 - With Gov. Christie, Obama views storm damage, talks with citizens who are recovering from the storm, and thanks first responders (helicopter tour with Gov. Christie; meets residents at the Brigantine Beach Community Center in Brigantine, NJ; visits the North Point Marina in Brigantine, NJ) in Atlantic City, NJ.

First Lady Michelle Obama solo
September 23
-Fundraising reception at the home of Andrew and Carol Golden (he is president of Princeton University Investment Co.), in Princeton, NJ. ($)

May 26

-per AP, spotted with daughters Sasha and Malia at Beyonce's concert at Revel Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.


THE REPUBLICANS
Former Gov. Mitt Romney
August 9 - after early event in New York.  Per ABC News and CNN, fundraiser in Short Hills, NJ. ($)

August 8
-Fundraising reception at Lake Terrace banquet hall in Lakewood, NJ. ($)
-Fundraising dinner at the home of financier/investor Lewis M. Eisenberg in Rumson, NJ. ($)

June 26 -
Evening fundraising reception w/ Gov. Chris Christie at the Renaissance Woodbridge hotel in Iselin, NJ. ($)

April 25
-
Per CNN, fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos at the home of attorney Edward Deutsch in Bernardsville, NJ. ($)
-Per Star-Ledger's Matt Friedman, fundraiser hosted by hedge fund manager and billionaire David Tepper and former ambassador to Brazil and the Netherlands Clifford Sobel, at the Hilton in Short Hills, NJ. ($)

Ann Romney
June 9 - Watches 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.  Jan Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) and Rafalca, a horse they co-own, finished third.

Paul Ryan

October 20 - Per the Millburn-Short Hills Patch, fundraiser at the home of Judy and Bill Greenblatt (he is founder and CEO of Sterling Infosystems, Inc.)  in Short Hills, NJ. ($)


Visits by third party candidates after their nominating conventions.
THE LIBERTARIANS
September 19 Jim Gray
-On College Tour, Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ.


THE GREENS
October 5 Cheri Honkala
-Speaks on how to keep people from being evicted from their homes at an evening event sponsored by Occupy Jersey at the Reformed Church of Highland Park in Highland Park, NJ.


Newspaper Endorsements
Obama
Asbury Park Press [Neptune] (Oct. 28, 2012)  98,032 (78) +
The Record [Hackensack] (Nov. 4, 2012)   155,236 (46) +
Star-Ledger [Newark] (Oct. 21, 2012)   278,940 (21) +
Romney
Burlington County Times [Willingboro] (Oct. 28, 2012) +