Garden State Patriot

With Chris Christie on the cusp of formally announcing his candidacy for Governor, and the first debate scheduled for this weekend, the Lonegan campaign is ready for the battle which will rage until June’s primary.

In a press release today Lonegan came out with guns blazing, taking dead aim at Christie on a couple of fronts. First and foremost, Lonegan challenged the heretofore silent Christie for specifics on the issues.

With just three days until the first campaign debate, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan warned a potential opponent “vapid doubletalk will not beat Jon Corzine.”

Lonegan aimed his comments at former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who Lonegan says has avoided comment on virtually every single issue of importance including most recently a question about COAH on Monday night…

…“I look forward to debating Mr. Christie.  So far, his alleged campaign has been one of intellectually insulting platitudes and statements so banal that even his strongest supporters are starting to ask questions,” Lonegan said.  “I know because every day more and more are coming over to our team.”

He also criticized Christie for running a ‘Dewey-like campaign’ — referencing the failed campaigns of the two-time Presiential candidated Thomas Dewey in 1944 and 1948 which were devoid of substance.

“Mr. Christie’s speech tonight to the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors — ‘Looking forward to the future’ — bears an uncanny resemblance to Dewey’s 1948 campaign theme ‘Your future lies ahead of you’.”

“This kind of mindless drivel is the reason people don’t vote,” Lonegan said.  “Vapid platitudes and vague platforms won’t motivate fed up taxpayers to come to the polls this November,” Lonegan said.  “Taxpayers want a leader who will stand up and speak out, not someone who cowers in a corner, hiding from controversy.”

Moreover, Lonegan said his campaign would essentially model itself after Ronald Reagan who won the Presidency – and New Jersey – twice through being bold and true to conservative principles.

“Ronald Reagan won New Jersey twice because he took bold stands that sharpened his differences with Jimmy Carter and the liberals, just as I did by winning three times by double-digit margins in a town that voted 64% for Barack Obama,” Lonegan said.  “Chris Christie, on the other hand, couldn’t even win his own primary for renomination as Freeholder, finishing sixth out of six and losing by a 2-1 margin.”

“The only way we’re going to beat Jon Corzine is with a clear line between what we believe and what he has done,” Lonegan explained.  “We’re not going to beat Corzine by being Corzine.  We’re not going to beat Corzine by trying to run away from who we are.  “We’re going to beat Corzine by standing tall for working families and always putting taxpayers first.  That’s how we’re going to win the Governorship.  That’s how we’re going to take the State Assembly this November.  And that’s how we’re going to pick up downballot offices from Freeholder to Mayor to Township Committee and Council.”

“We’re going to stand tall, stand together and stand as one — fighting for taxpayers and in defense of our towns and our conservative values,” Lonegan explained.

The Lonegan campaign, with over a million dollars in the bank, has also begun to air ads throughout the state. To hear Steve’s ad click here.

And to hear Steve’s latest interview with NJ 101.5FM. This interview can be heard here.

We wish Steve the best as he forges ahead with his campaign. New Jersey desperately needs conservative change and we believe he is the man to do it.

Note: This weekend’s debate will take place at the Somerset County Federation of Republican Women at the Fox Hollow Golf Club, 50 Fox Chase Run, Branchburg, will run from 8:30-10 am

This is cross-posted at RedCounty.com.