LAMBERTVILLE - They have their own culture over here, which includes a slice of government (because a lot of people work or worked in Trenton), civilization with a lime wedge of psychedelia, and the river. They like politics, their own especially, which includes keeping corporate robber barons at bay and a check on monster-development that would upset Lambertville's distinctive balance. They also dig state politics, of course, and so when a tour bus bearing LG candidate Dale Caldwell rumbled onto Bridge Street this afternoon, a bunch of locals had already camped on the sidewalk in front of a hipster hangout, more than prepared to welcome the statewide Democratic candidate.

In a downtown crammed with Halloween paraphernalia against a gloomy, overcast sky, Caldwell, coming down the stairs of the bus attired in overcoat and sunglasses and bounding onto the scene, looked like a founding member of Echo and the Bunnymen. With an entourage quickly coalescing around him, he immediately started grabbing hands and politicking and taking a tour of small businesses up and down the strip.

In and out of coffee shops, ice cream and pizza parlors, and chic little hotspots, the people in his midst could answer an InsiderNJ casting call, among them:

Karen Kominsky, lobbyist and diehard politico;

Michele Liebtag, labor leader with CWA Local 1036;

Joey Novick, attorney and humor columnist;

Colleen O'Dea (on the beat for NJ Spotlight News);

Jiff Tittel, former head of the NJ Sierra Club;

Naomi Drew, celebrated conflict-resolution author and poet;

David Del Vecchio, former mayor;

And many others, more than happy to join Mikie Sherrill's running mate as he strolled both sides of the street.

Caldwell's bus was touring New Jersey today, as part of the candidate's tag team with Sherrill, who will jump aboard the blue and yellow crate tomorrow, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

InsiderNJ caught up with the candidate just before he darted off to his next campaign stop.

A supposed sharp elbow thrown by this pastor and nice guy Centenary University prez seemed telegraphed not to hurt, as when he tried to land a dig on his Republican rival, James Gannon - "Where is he?"

It belied a campaign fought by the top of the ticket with meat cleavers in the mud.

Here today, at least among Lambertville's locals, some of whom were debating 1968 politics when the principal pulled in, Caldwell's easygoing, well-mannered civil style seemed to fit the bill.