Brennan Shows Up at Biden-Murphy Rally; Bashes Johnson and Wiz

By Max Pizarro | May 29, 2017, 2:42 pm | in Edward Edwards

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Brennan - still in I'm-in-to-win mode with eight days to go in the contest - told InsiderNJ that he showed up at a Joe Biden rally for Phil Murphy on Sunday out of respect for Biden.

"I had been asked to go and protest this rally and thought it was disrespectful to Vice President Biden so I went and met him," said Brennan. "Joe told me if I win the primary he'll come back and campaign for me. Joe Biden is a working man's statesman and I'm Honored that he came to our state."

Brennan said he hasn't really minded Murphy on the campaign trail, and said he and state Senator Ray Lesniak (D-20) have enjoyed each other's company at times even as they have competed for the upper-hand. But he can't say the same about former Treasury Undersecretary Jim Johnson and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19).

"Johnson complains about big money in politics with $3 million in his war chest, he owes quite a bit to lobbyists, lawyers and liars - I would take Murphy over Jim Johnson or John Wisniewski any day of the week," Brennan said.

"Zinna, Lesniak, Murphy and Kaper Dale have been gentlemen throughout this campaign - JW and JJ - not so much."

As word circulated about his presence at the Murphy-Biden rally, InsiderNJ asked Brennan if it was fair to say he attended to show support for the former vice president. "That's fair - support and admiration,' said the gubernatorial candidate. "I'm not one for pettiness, I see lots of pettiness from Johnson and Wiz."

As Brennan has sought traction as an anti-establishment candidate in the Democratic Primary for governor, he has had to try to get around the particularly sharp elbows of Johnson and Wisniewski, who are battling for that spot. Brennan says the pair of them have overdone their game faces. In one instance, he said Johnson showed up an hour late for the Essex debate and then snapped at he and a bantering Lesniak with something along the lines of, "Actually you are cutting into my time."

An irritated Brennan said Johnson "stole my Social Justice platform to appease his base - suddenly he wants to end the war on drugs and issue pardons.

"Wiz favors pipelines - voted to override Whitman as a pro life Dem and violated pay to play rules in Keyport

represents municipalities and school boards while serving in the Assembly."

Edward Edwards

Brennan Shows Up at Biden-Murphy Rally; Bashes Johnson and Wiz

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