One thing was made clear in the second and final debate in the race for New Jersey governor: this is no longer a race about policy or a vision about how to lead the state.

This is about character and credibility.

The mudslinging from both candidates also served as a reminder of both how tight this race has become and the implications of the race that extend far beyond New Jersey’s borders.

Both national parties are hoping to score a victory here in this off-election contest. Democrats are angling to stave off a growing rightward trend following President Donald Trump’s surprising gains in the Garden State in 2024. Republicans are hoping to score an upset win in a blue bastion of the northeast to prove that MAGA is on the march everywhere.

The outcome will also be seen as an early wea

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