New Jersey: Not So Deep Blue?

The signs are there:

Republicans swept the hard-fought races in the 12th Legislative District, where Democratic state Sen. Ellen Karcher conceded to GOP Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck Tuesday night. Beck was outspent almost 6 to 1 by Democrats; the state party poured millions of dollars into the race.

That's bad news for the Democrats, for sure, when folks are ignoring their propoganda and voting with their gut.

Toms River weighs in:

Come January, Republicans will occupy the Toms River mayoral seat and all seven council seats, after they swept the general election Tuesday, according to unofficial results released by the Ocean County Clerk's Office.

The Asbury Park Press makes the point:

It was a sweet night for Republicans in Monmouth and Ocean counties Tuesday.
Republicans won all 18 available seats in the Legislature.

Not to bad for Middlesex, either:

SAYREVILLE — Sayreville Republicans ran away with Tuesday's election, which found incumbent Kennedy O'Brien re-elected to the mayoral post for a third term and the party picking up two, three-year Borough Council seats.

And the Dems were thwarted in Old Bridge as they tried to steal one:

Democrats in Old Bridge have conceded the final council seat they had been disputing into the late hours of Tuesday's elections. The last of three contested at-large township council posts will go to Republican Brian J. Cahill..

And one last gloat about the defeat of Corzine's pet stem-cell initiative:

In rejecting borrowing $450 million to fund stem cell research, New Jersey voters dealt a blow to Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine and supporters who touted the funding as key to finding cures and boosting the state economy.

Corzine spent $200,000 to help run ads supporting the measure that would have funded 10 years of research on embryonic and adult stem cells and he campaigned heavily for it, but 53 percent of voters rejected the spending.

There's a breeze a blowin' thru Jersey, folks...with God's blessing it will only pick up strength.

More here and here....and for a less enthusiastic analysis (but perhaps more realistic?), pull over at the Parkway Rest Stop...