EAST RUTHERFORD -- Gov. Christie’s challenger in the fall, state Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), officially introduced her running mate this morning – a female labor leader named Milly Silva – marking just the third time in American history that an all-female ticket has run in a gubernatorial election and the first time in memory that a sitting labor leader has sought statewide office.

Silva, a mother of three from Montclair, walked on stage to chants of “Milly! Milly! Milly!” and delivered punch after punch against Christie in a direct appeal to women and minorities.

She began her remarks in Spanish – "buenos dias" – and in the middle of her speech she broke into an extended discourse in Spanish that ended with “no mas.” That prompted a “no mas” chant from the crowd.

Three times now, the gov has been asked for his opinion on last month's U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down much of the federal Voting Rights Act.

Three times, most recently today, he declined, saying he hadn't read the decision. 

Christie regularly opines on national issues, so his lack of an opinion is intriguing. Democrats see him cynically straddling the line between 2013 and 2016: The Supreme Court decision was popular among national Republicans, who could vote for Christie for prez in 2016, but wildly unpopular among minorities and Democrats, who make up a key part of the electorate in New Jersey, where Christie is up for re-election in 2013.

Barbara Buono unveiled an eight-page economic plan today that focuses on kitchen table issues.

She wants to: increase aid to colleges, give more money to students for higher education tuition, recruit more science and math teachers, guarantee sick days for workers, expand tax relief for child care expenses, offer tax incentives for small businesses, create a self-sustaining public-private investment program for cities, and re-start the transit tunnel project into New York City that Gov. Christie canceled. 

This is a significant moment in the Buono campaign, because up until now she has focused largely on social issues, like Christie' veto of a gay marriage bill and his opposition to abortion.

John Traier was in his office earlier this week when he got a call from Barbara Buono, the Democratic state senator running against Republican Gov. Christie. She thanked him for his $250 donation and asked if he'd be able to cut another check for $250.

But Traier never gave $250 to Buono -- and he wasn't about to now.

That's because he's the Republican chairman of Passaic County -- a bona fide Christie supporter who has already given $1,000 to the governor's re-election campaign.

Yet another poll released today shows Gov. Christie cruising to re-election and his opponent, state Sen. Barbara Buono, failing to make up any ground at this early stage of the race. He leads by 32 points, the Quinnipiac Survey said, which is about the same lead he's held all along.

But more interesting to me is this: Half of New Jersey's blacks -- and half of New Jersey's Democrats -- think Christie deserves re-election. Christie is focusing his campaign on peeling off elected Democrats and Democratic constituencies, like African Americans, and on Monday he collected the endorsement of one of the state's most significant black leaders.

Voters were asked: "Do you feel that Christopher Christie deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?"

SAYREVILLE — The famous New Jersey rocker with liberal leanings put his arm around Republican Gov. Christie, walked down a Sandy-damaged street to meet residents, and then announced a $1 million donation for Sandy relief.

No, not that famous New Jersey rocker.

While Christie and his far more liberal musical idol, Bruce Springsteen, publicly reconciled their differences in the aftermath of Sandy, the storm also brought Christie together with another well-known rock ‘n roll name from the state: Jon Bon Jovi.