According to a report in the Star-Ledger, state senator and failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono lashed out at unnamed New Jersey Democrats in her concession speech on Tuesday night, criticizing her state's "old boy machine politics" and condemning the "onslaught of betrayal from our own political party" her campaign was forced to endure.
"The Democratic political bosses — some elected and some not — made a deal with this governor despite him representing everything they’re supposed to be against," Buono said. "They didn't do it to help the state. They did it out of a desire to help themselves politically and financially. But we did it our way and I’m proud of that."
While Buono did not specify as to which "political bosses" she had in mind, the Star-Ledger notes that she has previously been critical of South Jersey power broker George Norcross and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. DiVincenzo endorsed Buono's opponent, Republican Chris Christie.
Buono noted that she had chosen Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell (D-Hudson) to serve as Democratic State Chairman — a choice that typically goes to the party’s gubernatorial nominee. But she got resistance from political bosses.
“They could not control him. A choice we both share. At the time, the party seemed about to implode,” she said. “So even though we had the votes to elect Jason as state party chair of the Democratic Party, I decided that in winning the battle we would have lost the war as I believed the party was cannibalizing itself. And so I took one for the team. The only problem — I realized too late. There was no team.”
Watch Buono's comments below, via the Star-Ledger:
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