Why vote in NJ/NY?

            For a region with multiple elections over the next few weeks, there may not be that much voting going on in the New York metropolitan area. As detailed in a previous post by Joe, both the Senate and Governor races in New Jersey are almost forgone conclusions, with polling slanted hugely in favor of Democrat Cory Booker (for senate) and Republican Chris Christie (for governor). As seen in the Star Ledger yesterday, those numbers are not getting any closer. 80 percent of people who were polled said they had already made up their mind, meaning for those would are still undecided, there is very little incentive to either vote or spend time to learn about the candidates.
            But it is even worse in New York City, where there is a mayoral election to succeed three-term Independent Michael Bloomberg. As the New York Times reported today, Democratic public advocate Bill de Blasio holds a 50-point lead in the polls over Republican Joseph Lhota, the former head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. For many New Yorkers, it may not even be worth their time to even know when Election Day is. The Mayor of New York holds a fair amount of power – more people live in NYC than live in all of Virginia – but as opposed to the vicious Virginia gubernatorial election, the race has become more of a waiting game than anything.
            As the Quinnipiac polling director put it, “de Blasio’s kids can start arguing over who gets the best bedroom in Gracie Mansion”