Woodbridge, NJ
In the final week of the campaign, Dawkins campaign ran short on cash, stayed on TV in NYC market but went dark in Philly market. We would have lost regardless, as Team Lautenberg with Carville and Begala were just better than we were.
Lautenberg also proved a worthy ‘made in New Jersey’ street fighter while Dawkins was perceived as a carpetbagger looking for a state where he could knock off an incumbent.
We visited Carville and Begala at their Brunswick, NJ HQ the day after election and shown a stockpile of killer negative ads they never got around to running. James and Paul and tenacious campaigners as well as great guys.
Carville and Begala bought us dinner at a nearby Italian joint, and told me to keep at it. He told us his inspiring story about losing election after election but remaining confident in his skills until he made his own luck and changed things.