Trump turmoil adds new factor in Murphy's run for governor

Philip D. Murphy, the leading Democratic candidate for governor but who is still unknown to most New Jersey voters, made sure the captive audience on Thursday's Chamber of Commerce train ride to Washington had a Murphy moment seared into its memory.

Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and ambassador to Germany, lapped the 15-car train several times, hand-shaking his way through the bottlenecks in the aisles. His Energizer Bunny style was more reminiscent of ex-Gov. Jim McGreevey rather than Jon S. Corzine, another former Democratic governor and onetime Goldman titan to whom Murphy is often compared.

He made his presence felt in other ways: Complimentary “Phil Murphy for Governor” gift bags sat on tables and seats. A veritable rapid-response team of Murphy aides – a communications chief, his statewide field organizer, operatives from Bergen and Hudson counties – filled several rows of one car.

And if anyone failed to get the message, about 10 college-age aides hoisting pro-Murphy signs greeted the weary travelers disembarking at Washington’s Union Station.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/columnists/charles-stile/2017/02/18/stile-trump-turmoil-adds-new-factor-murphys-run-governor/98046974/