New Jersey governor’s race: Jack Ciattarelli votes early; Mikie Sherrill to campaign with Obama

NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Democrat Mikie Sherrill is preparing for a campaign blitz this weekend and Republican Jack Ciattarelli cast his vote in the New Jersey gubernatorial election on Friday.

The energy was high and so was the optimism for Ciattarelli who voted early in Bridgewater. He has shifted to a full court press of campaigning over the next four days until Election Day.

“We try to touch four counties every day, there’s eight stops today, we’ve got rallies all throughout the state, reminding people that we’re still in the midst of early voting,” Ciattarelli said. “Two more days after today and reminding people to don’t wait till Tuesday. Anything can happen.”

Turnout is high for early voting and mail-in ballots as nearly one million New Jerseyans have already voted.

“I am a strong law and order, yet compassion for our citizens. I think we could do both with Jack,” voter Claudia Levin Bateman said.

“New Jerseyans are fed up, paying high electrical bills, paying taxes, fees, tolls, everything keeps going up. Our government’s a mess. We need to sort of rally to come in and save New Jersey,” voter Phillipe Pedroso said.

This is the second most expensive gubernatorial race in the state’s history.

Sherrill’s campaign has edged out Ciattarelli in fundraising — $51 million to $47 million.

That is mirrored by campaign spending. Sherrill has spent $43 million and Ciattarelli has spent $39.7 million.

“I feel great, I only have ’21 to compare it to, I really thought I was going to win that race,” Ciattarelli said. “You know how close we came? This one feels very different. Energy up and down. The state is electric. The reception in the minority communities across states been overwhelming positive.”

Sherrill has also been on the campaign trail all week and former President Barack Obama will headline a rally for her Saturday in Newark.

“To me, centering a campaign and what you are hearing on the ground, cutting out the noise sometimes from what’s going on online or elsewhere, but really centering on the very people that you want to serve is incredibly important and I think incredibly successful,” Sherrill said.

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