Republicans supporting Senator Ray Bateman in the 1977 gubernatorial election thought they had a strong endorsement in their corner when state Senator Anthony Imperiale of Newark (an independent incumbent in what was then District 30) backed Bateman over incumbent Governor Brendan Byrne.

Bateman allies wanted the senator to wait with the endorsement until the fall, but lost the argument to those within the campaign who, in the name of building momentum, persuaded the candidate to unleash the Imperiale (pictured) endorsement in the summer time when Bateman led Byrne by double digits.

A tough former Newark councilman, Korean War veteran and law and order guy who struck a controversial position at the height of the Newark troubles of 1968, Imperiale didn’t help Bateman in the end.

Not only did the Newarker lose his own senate seat that year, but Bateman’s lead over Byrne unraveled and the Democratic incumbent won by a convincing margin. Imperiale bounced back with his own run for governor in the 1981 Republican Primary, but eventual general election winner Tom Kean, Sr. soundly defeated him.