Brian Lair on WNYC and now we continue our election series, 30 issues and 30 days.

Today we begin the final week of the series with the final five segments.

26 through 30.

Today it's issue 26 on day 26.

President Donald Trump is an issue in the New Jersey governor's race.

Now, on one level, the gubernatorial race in New Jersey is being seen as a bellwether for how the nation is or is not approving of President Trump's second term in office. Of course, it's about a lot more than that, but it is also this.

And he is making himself a factor on purpose, so much so that on Friday, and maybe I haven't

heard this yet, the Trump Justice Department said it will monitor polling sites in

Passaic County. If you don't know Jersey, Passaic is a purple county, that it also has a large

immigrant population. Patterson is in Passaic County, for example, and Democrats are calling

this voter intimidation. Joining us now to talk about how both Republican Jack Chittarelli and Democrat Mikey

Sherrill say they would deal with President Trump if their elected governor and other ways

the president's influence is being felt in the tight race is Nick Koresoniti, New York Times

reporter covering national politics with a focus on voting and elections. Nick, thanks for coming on for

this. Welcome back to WNYC. Oh, thanks so much for having me. Let's start with the basic fact that in

their televised debate, Republican Jack Chitterelli and Democrat Mikey Sherrill are asked to give

Trump a letter grade for his performance in office so far. Let's listen to a little bit of that.

Right now, I'd certainly give the President today. I think he's right about everything that he's doing. He has secured the border and the economy. We've got inflation as much lower than it was when Joe Biden was in the

president, was in the, was in the White white house and particularly because of what he's done

specific to new jersey temporary halt on the wind farms beaten up on new york democrats over the gateway

over congestion pricing plan and quadrupling the salt deduction congresswoman amazing i think that

tells us all we need to know about who jack chitterrelli's supporting i give him an f right now

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