CLINTON - Jack Ciattarelli tucked his tie into his shirt, slipped on rubber gloves and began slicing meat.

"Now this is Jersey. This is Jersey," he said.

Ciattarelli with supporters in tow spent part of Thursday in the Ye Olde Sub Base, a 50-plus year institution in this historic Hunterdon County town.

On a day with a new poll showing him tied with Mikie Sherrill, Ciattarelli was roaming Main Street eateries, visiting two pizzerias and the sub shop.

How does he feel about the Emerson poll showing him and Sherrill each getting support from 43 percent of the electorate?

Displaying a confidence that engulfs just about any candidate, Ciattarelli cracked, "Listen, it's no surprise."

He said that as he travels the state, visiting diners and the like, people want change.

Ciattarelli lost the 2021 race, but started campaigning for this year's run almost immediately.

So, he's good at what he does, which is engaging strangers in conversation and making small talk.

He asked the young man behind the counter at the sub shop how many sandwiches he sells a day. The answer was 50, prompting Ciattarelli, a CPA, to try to quickly figure out how many sandwiches the shop has sold since it opened in 1973.

"Let's see, 50 times 365 times 52."

He never calculated the answer, but this wasn't math class, it was about winning an election.

"The only way to win an election is to press the flesh," he said.

That's a traditional thing for a candidate to say.

Still, there are many today who rely more on analytics and reaching targeted voters through social media.

Deviating a bit from his locale on this day, Ciattarelli talked about venturing into Democratic areas such as Newark, Elizabeth and Paterson.

"We're getting a very warm welcome," he said.

Not always.

A contingent of black clergy published a letter this week denouncing Ciattarelli as a man who visits the black community, but simply does not understand it.

"You got to roll with the punches," Ciattarelli said in response. Now he was at Toscana Thin Crust Pizza, and was, in fact, eating a slice.

(No, he did not make it).

Ciattarelli said he looks forward to working with the black clergy after he is elected governor.

As for the sub sandwich Ciattarelli created, it was ham with all the trimmings.

He gave it to Ross Traphagen, a local councilman. Chances are pretty good, he liked it.