New Jersey Republicans dismiss Obama campaign efforts as ‘fake excitement’

president Barack ObamaThe Trump campaign’s effort in New Jersey to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial race in the Garden State was a “Hail Mary” pass from Democrats that generated “false excitement,” conservative voters told Fox News Digital during a Turning Point Action rally in South Jersey Monday afternoon.

“I will say this as an African American, we’re done hearing Barack Obama try to tell us how we’re supposed to vote,” Shawn Crump, a voter from New Jersey, told Fox News Digital on Monday afternoon. “Because, obviously, I was a Democrat. I worked to put it in place campaign In 2008, we were just let down. He has failed this country, but he has especially failed many African Americans. So we don’t really want to hear him tell us how we were supposed to go.”

Crump was among a group of Republican voters who traveled to Medford, New Jersey, on Monday afternoon to participate in a Turning Point Action rally to rally more support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the final hours before Election Day. The rally is billed as a “Super Chase” event, with community members going afterward to remind voters to cast their ballots. Ciattarelli did not attend this particular gathering.

Attendees heard from local conservative leaders before knocking on doors and reminding people to get out and vote in the final hours of the election.

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New Jersey Republican voters spoke to Fox News Digital from Medford, New Jersey, on November 3, 2025, about the upcoming gubernatorial election. (Fox News Digital)

Obama traveled to Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday evening, where he held a massive meeting with Democratic candidate Cheryl. New Jersey is a historically dark blue state, and previously voted for a Republican governor in 2013, when former Governor Chris Christie was elected, and previously voted for a Republican president in 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.

“Let’s face it, our country and our politics are in a very dark place right now,” Obama told the crowd on Saturday. Donald Trump And its management. “It’s hard to know where to begin, because every day this White House delivers a new batch of chaos, neglect, and meanness. And just plain old madness.”

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Republicans are on a mission to flip the state red and are motivated by Trump’s successes with Jersey voters in 2024. Trump narrowed his 2020 loss from 16 points in the state to six points in 2024, flipping five counties to the GOP.

Former President Barack Obama speaks during the “Get Out the Vote” rally for New Jersey’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Rep. Mickey Sherrill (DNJ) at the gymnasium of Essex County College on November 1, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Joe Seriday, president of the Burlington County Young Republicans, told Fox Digital that enthusiasm is high among voters who cast ballots for Ciattarelli and added that Obama’s campaign in the state signals desperation for the party in a historically blue state.

“I think it’s kind of old news now,” Sireday said, adding that while Obama deserves respect as a former president, he sees problems with the campaign effort. “Usually when Democrats talk about these big names — Obama, who else was here, Andy Kim, Cory Booker — it usually means they’re in trouble.”

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“Usually when they bring up Obama and laundry, they hate to say some laundry, and it usually means they’re desperate,” he added.

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy headlines a campaign event for New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, on October 15, 2025, in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News)

Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance and founder of the campaign efforts PA Chase and NJ Chase, told Fox Digital that Obama’s presence in New Jersey was a “Hail Mary” pass from Democrats.

“I think it’s all AstroTurf. I think it’s false excitement,” said Maloney, who attended the rally as a voter rally speaker in New Jersey. “They’re exaggerating things and trying to spice things up. No one’s excited about Cheryl. And that’s something you can’t fix.”

“You can bring Obama. You can bring anyone. Ultimately, New Jersey “He has an 800,000 registration advantage over Democrats and we here in the state are telling you it’s competitive,” Maloney added. “So whether you win or lose, the fact that this is where Democrats have to spend resources, time, energy and money, this is not even supposed to be a competitive race. We’re in dead heat right now. We’re in the game. This is a competitive blessing. And if Jack pulls this off, it will be a seismic moment in politics.”

New Jersey’s high taxes and rising energy costs are top concerns for voters, with locals telling Fox Digital that protecting Christianity and “the truth” is also on the ballot in 2025.

Cheryl pulls out all the stops with Obama endorsement, pushes new star-studded jersey campaign as race tightens

“What concerns me is Christianity, not telling people the truth, and obviously abortion and our kids in schools, they need to learn really honest things,” Valerie, a local voter in South Jersey, told Fox News Digital.

Former President Barack Obama campaigning for Rep. Mickey Sherrill, the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey, in Newark, New Jersey, November 1, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“She added: “I feel like we’re going to flip the country. I hope a lot of Republican voters get out and don’t stay home, because if they get out, I think we’re going to win.”

Local voter and pastor Jeff Kliewer told Fox Digital that pro-life and homeschooling issues also influence voting decisions.

“The pro-life issue is still huge,” Kluwer said. “It’s one of the largest centers. And for us, in New Jersey, a number of pregnancy centers have been attacked by the Democratic machine led by Phil Murphy, and it’s going to get worse if they take power. So I know a lot of the leaders of these pregnancy centers are trying to help the girls, but they’re under constant pressure. So, there’s this problem.”

“Secondly, for families who homeschool, there’s a lot of red tape that goes against homeschooling. Even though New Jersey has been one of the freest states for homeschooling, that may change if we don’t keep good people in office here,” he said, adding that taxes are top of mind for most voters as they head to the polls.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democratic opponent Mikie Sherrill, on September 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (Noah K. Murray/The Associated Press)

Turning Point Action field representative Noah Formica, who is from Pennsylvania and made the trip to New Jersey to bolster mobilization efforts, explained that the “Super Chase” event is designed to motivate local residents to motivate their neighbors to vote.

“It’s a group of people coming together. They hear a few speakers talk about the work, and then we get directly involved in our communities,” he said.

“Every door we knock on, here in New Jersey, makes a huge difference. Just the voter connections. And we have about 60 people here, so if every person here knocks on 15 doors, imagine the impact it will have on the local race,” he said.

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New Jersey’s election is scheduled for Tuesday, with polls opening at 6 a.m. ET and closing at 8 p.m. ET.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sherrill’s campaign regarding voter comments but did not immediately receive a response.