June 2, 2005 GOP candidate Murphy seeks blue-collar vote
By Lauren Kidd of Gannett
ASBURY PARK PRESS
TRENTON — Republican gubernatorial candidate John Murphy says he is the guy Democrats fear.
"Look at my blue-collar roots," said Murphy, a three-term Morris County freeholder. "I can operate a backhoe. . . . My three uncles are union carpenters. . . . My dad was a member of the CWA. . . . I am a first generation Irish-American."
"People that never voted for a Republican before might vote for a guy like me," Murphy said.
But before he solicits the votes of those he refers to as "Reagan Democrats," Murphy must emerge atop a field of seven Republicans campaigning hard for a November face-off against probable Democratic candidate Sen. Jon S. Corzine.
As a politician with no statewide experience, he acknowledges some are calling his bid a "dark-horse shot." Some say Murphy is angling to raise his profile to boost his chances of success in a future campaign.
In polls, Murphy has ranked among the top of the second tier of GOP hopefuls. In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, the gap between front-runners Doug Forrester and Bret Schundler and the rest of the pack measured at about 30 percent.
Supporters of Murphy, a candidate with a background steeped in public service, say his could be the fresh face the Republican Party needs. Murphy is an active volunteer firefighter, youth soccer coach and a former mayor of Morris Township.
"You can't talk about public service out of one side of your mouth and not participate in it," Murphy said.
"I don't know anybody that has ever met him that doesn't like him," said Ed Ramirez of Morristown, who first met Murphy more than 20 years ago, when the fireman knocked on his door, mistaking a blaze in the fireplace as a house fire.
"We had one hell of a fire going," Ramirez said.
With a handshake and a smile readily available, Murphy — the father of three young children and oldest of seven — has been labeled with words like energetic, charismatic and personable, and the 45-year old financial adviser leads a young staff that seems to adore his political approach and outlook.
"He is hands down the best retail politician," said his campaign manager, Richard DeAngelis. "He is so good with people. He listens. He hears them when they talk."
On a recent stump through Monmouth County, Murphy seemed to relate to everybody he spoke with. "I would love to earn your vote," he told two senior citizens outside a Holmdel pizza parlor, before talking with workers inside. He engaged in conversation with the owner of a hair salon across the courtyard and those emerging from a gym.
"He is well-liked. . . . I can relate to him," said Bridget Antonucci, a Hazlet township committeewoman, whom Murphy visited at her interactive development center, which helps children advance their developmental growth.
The candidate has been trying to turn that likeability into victory for more than two years, since he witnessed what he calls "financial and ethical lapses" in then-Gov. James E. McGreevey's administration.
Murphy thought his profile would be a good contrast to that of McGreevey. He says supporters told him, " "You can take on McGreevey. He is not going to out-Irish you. He is not going to out-Catholic you."
When it became clear that McGreevey would not seek re-election and in fact resigned after divulging a gay extramarital affair, Murphy didn't want to back down.
"Obviously things have changed. . . . I wasn't going to get out because McGreevey got out," Murphy said.
Now Murphy and his family are nearing the end of a busy campaign season, hoping primary voters extend it another five months.
He says he has put the golf clubs in the attic and turned off the football and baseball on TV to make time for his wife and children, all of whom have participated in the process. His wife has spoken on his behalf at events, and his children have stuffed envelopes and attended fund-raisers and conventions.
Murphy is seeking to build upon a strong Morris County base, which includes the endorsements of all of the county's Republican mayors and freeholders.
Even the Morris County state legislators not endorsing him are fans. "All of us like him," said Assemblyman Michael Carroll, R-Morris, who said he supports Schundler based on the candidate's property tax policy, experience and base.
Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris, endorsed Forrester, but he calls Murphy an up-and-comer. "People like John Murphy are the future of the Republican Party," DeCroce said.
