Gov. Chris Christie is already billing his probable victory in New Jersey next Tuesday as “a historic election in the history of our state” that will attract the eyes of the nation.
In a conference call with hundreds of supporters, volunteers and legislative candidates Monday evening, Christie elevated the impact of his re-election bid, billing it as a once-in-a-generation effort that will provide a template for anguished Republicans on how to win again.
“That’s what we’re in it for. We’re in it to win,” he said.
The potential 2016 presidential candidate made no qualms about sending a message far beyond the borders of the Garden State with what he hopes is a double-digit pummeling of Democrat Barbara Buono.
“The entire country is watching. We’re going to have an opportunity as a Republican Party to set an example for our party all over the country, about the way you bring people together, the way you put together coalitions,” Christie said during a 15-minute talk on the campaign call.
“Let’s wake up with a hangover on Nov. 6,” he said.
Christie rattled off a trove of granular statistics to display the massive campaign operation that is still underway in the final eight days.
By the numbers, via Christie, who dubbed it as “one of the most incredible statewide grassroots efforts that any Republican has ever run in the state’s history”:
- 30 Republican National Committee staffers in the state
- 3.5 million voter contacts this cycle, 3 million calls; 500,000 door knocks. That’s compared to 2 million voter contacts four years ago.
- The campaign pledged to make an additional 450,000 calls and 150,000 door knocks in the closing week.
- Have identified 120,000 new supporters in 2013, including 100,000 new supporters for legislative candidates
- By Nov. 5, eight (8) separate mail pieces will have hit doors encouraging people to vote
- A bus tour the final week will include 92 stops in 21 counties
On the robocalls, Christie quipped, ”Whether people find them annoying or not, they’re effective and we’re going to keep making them.”
Christie also guaranteed supporters “a really great party” in Asbury Park for election night.
The campaign decided to eschew the traditional “stuffy hotel ballroom” for the Jersey Shore convention hall with a boardwalk backdrop to celebrate the progress made since Hurricane Sandy ravaged the state a year ago.
“It’s going to be different like our campaign’s been different,” Christie pledged of the election night festivities.
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