Editor’s Be aware: Dean Obeidallah, a former legal professional, is the host of SiriusXM radio’s each day program “The Dean Obeidallah Present” and a columnist for The Each day Beast. Comply with him @DeanObeidallah. The opinions expressed on this commentary are his personal. View extra opinion on CNN.
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The battle for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination is already beneath means – at the very least among the many states vying to be among the many handful that get to kick off balloting in the course of the social gathering’s primaries.
In April, the Democratic Nationwide Committee introduced it was scrapping the decades-old custom that noticed 4 states – Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina – lead off the quadrennial election balloting to decide on the social gathering’s presidential candidate.
The seek for which states would possibly change these 4 has spurred a actuality show-like competitors for the first prize. The DNC’s said objective is to carry these early election contests in states which might be extra reflective of America’s ethnic variety. And it needs to carry these contests in states that maintain primaries.
That’s dangerous information for Iowa, which is likely one of the least various states with a inhabitants greater than 90% white and which kicks off its presidential voting season each 4 years by holding caucuses slightly than primaries.
On Saturday, a DNC official informed CNN that the checklist had been whittled all the way down to 16 states plus Puerto Rico to be chosen as one of many first 5 primaries after New York and Nebraska had been dropped from consideration. The remaining contenders are a various bunch, with states as diverse as Washington, Texas and Maryland.
However there may be one state nonetheless within the operating that may be a no-brainer for the nation’s first main: New Jersey. (Cease laughing.)
My residence state is the right place for a wide range of causes. First, do you need to see if a candidate has a sufficiently thick pores and skin to endure a presidential run? Jersey is the state the place the expression “What are you ?” is taken into account a heat welcome. And wouldn’t you prefer to see how the candidates reply to New Jersey owners yelling at them to “Get off my garden”? Not that people aren’t pleasant in Jersey, however use the sidewalk and don’t step on our lawns.
A “Jersey first” main would additionally imply waving goodbye to rallies in Iowa’s cornfields and as an alternative saying whats up to marketing campaign stops on the stunning Jon Bon Jovi relaxation space off the Backyard State Parkway. (Sure, it’s actual. It was renamed that in late 2021.)
It additionally would give candidates an opportunity to carry occasions at locations made well-known in TV exhibits and films, amongst them landmarks from “The Sopranos,” together with the membership that was Bada Bing in North Jersey.
What would our nation be with out the scores of exceptional folks born within the Backyard State? Amongst them are Frank Sinatra, Meryl Streep, Shaquille O’Neal, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Latifah, Danny DeVito, Jack Nicholson, Ice-T, Joe Pesci – the checklist goes on and on. You’re welcome. Now give us the first.
In all seriousness, the state matches one of many DNC’s key objectives: making certain that early main states appear like the US. New Jersey’s inhabitants of practically 9.3 million folks really displays our nation’s variety.
The 2020 census discovered nationwide that Whites are about 61.6% of the inhabitants, Blacks 12.4%, Hispanics 18.7% and Asian Individuals 6%. Have a look at Jersey’s 2020 census numbers – Whites 55%, Blacks 13.1%, Hispanics 21.6% and Asian Individuals 10%. These numbers mirror America, that means they are going to drive candidates to handle the considerations of varied communities.
Plus, Jersey is made up of various locales, from farm nation within the south to large cities reminiscent of Newark and Jersey Metropolis within the north to the suburbs of New York Metropolis and Philadelphia. Candidates should handle a variety of points.
And given Jersey’s well-known seashores, these presidential hopefuls can be compelled to speak in regards to the affect of local weather change after current hurricanes led to extreme seaside erosion.
New Jersey’s financial variety additionally would give candidates an opportunity to handle the wants of a cross part of companies from mom-and-pop shops to large industrial considerations to the big retailers present in buying malls that dot the state. Numerous Fortune 500 corporations, reminiscent of Johnson & Johnson and Prudential Monetary, additionally name New Jersey residence.
For candidates to win the assist of Jersey voters, they must navigate not simply nationwide points however native ones as properly. These would come with what to name the state’s reply to Canadian bacon: Taylor ham or Pork roll?
If the candidate is in North Jersey, she or he higher say, “Taylor ham,” or count on, in a single fell swoop, to lose sufficient voters to fill a shopping center. They usually’ll additionally should know tips on how to pander to Jerseyites: I’m betting that multiple candidate would supply to place Springsteen in his or her administration.
I hate to go damaging, however a cursory have a look at a few of the different East Coast states nonetheless in competitors, reminiscent of Delaware, lets me know that Jersey doesn’t have a lot to fret about. Certain, there are good folks there, and it’s President Joe Biden’s residence state. However someway, Delaware is simply not a spot the place you’d maintain a presidential main. It’s extra of a spot you’re compelled to cease for those who get a flat tire on the best way to New Jersey.
One different large promoting level for New Jersey has to do with media entry. The presidential candidates will be capable of jump over to tv studios in neighboring New York – maybe the world’s largest media market – and that may enable them to get their message out simply to all the nation. And there are not any media within the nation extra cutthroat than in New York Metropolis, making certain intense scrutiny of every contender and a vetting course of that may assure the Democratic Social gathering finally ends up with the strongest common election candidate.
The panel charged with overseeing the method is anticipated to make its suggestions to the total DNC by the tip of summer time. Let me make this simple for the DNC: Choose New Jersey, and nobody will get damage. (OK, simply kidding in regards to the damage half.) But when the DNC actually thinks one other state is healthier than Jersey, all I can say is, “Fuhgeddaboutit.”