Another red-letter day in the annals of Republican fiscal prudence. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced this afternoon that he has scheduled the special election to pick a succeessor for the late Senator Frank Lautenberg for October 16-despite the fact that the regular election for New Jersey state government, very much including the governor's job, for which Christie is seeking re-election, will be held on November 5th. The cost of holding a special election, rather than consolidating it with the regular election three weeks later, has been estimated by the state's office of legislative services at $24 million. But holding the special early means that Democrats won't be mounting a huge get-out-the-vote drive for Lautenberg's likely successor, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, during the election in which Republican Christie appears on the ballot.
"I don't dawdle," Christie said in announcing his decision. And, he hardly needed to add, he doesn't do anything that might jeopardize his political career.
