Politics & Government

Kean Bests Bramnick in Blog's Lt. Gov. Poll

Conservative blog poll shows more support for senator, who has pulled out of LG sweepstakes.

An online poll released today by the conservative blog, Save Jersey, shows more support for State Sen. Tom Kean Jr., R-Westfield, for lieutenant governor over Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Westfield. Both, though, finished behind two statewide conservative leaders, with Bramnick finishing last in the poll. Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, a Westfield native, finished second ahead of both current residents.

Kean, the Senate minority leader, announced last month that he had no interest in being the running mate of Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie, while Bramnick has been mentioned in numerous media reports as one of the five names on Christie's shortlist for the job. This is the first year that New Jersey will be electing a lieutenant governor. 

Save Jersey, a blog started by conservative activist Matt Rooney, proclaims itself to be the "meeting place for conservatives statewide." The blog started an unscientific poll to see who site readers favored to be Christie's running mate. The poll contained names of likely candidates for the job, along with several names that are not considered likely. The poll included 501 votes.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, who lost the nomination to Christie finished first with 33-percent; Schundler, the GOP's 2001 nominee who grew up in Westfield, placed second with 18-percent; State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth County, as third with 16-percent; Kean placed fourth at 14-percent; State Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington County received eight percent; Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan received five percent; Assemblywoman Allison Littell McHose, R-Sussex County, received three percent; and Bramnick, a leader of the party's moderate wing,  rounded out the pack at two percent.

Bramnick, Allen and Donovan are all members of Christie's shortlist, along with Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, R-Monmouth County. Reports say Christie could pick a running mate this week.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Save Jersey is conducting another lieutenant governor online poll including Bramnick, Donovan, Allen, Beck, Schundler and Guadagno, along with State Sen. Joe Kyrillos, R-Monmouth County; Assemblywoman Amy Handin, R-Monmouth County and former Secretary of State Buster Soaries.


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