American Commitment Action Fund, a conservative super PAC, is launching a web video that brutally contrasts the campaign boasts of Newark mayor Cory Booker with the ugly realities of life in the city and the way he governs. In short, all glitzy image, few actual results:

The video features quite a bit of Booker criticism from Ras Baraka, a Newark city councilman . . . who is also the son of Amiri Baraka.

If that name sounds familiar, you’re probably remembering Baraka’s post-9/11 controversy:

In September 2002, at the Dodge Poetry Festival in Waterloo, N.J., Amiri Baraka stood up on stage and read his recently published poem on the 9/11 attacks, “Somebody Blew Up America.”

The crowd reacted with stunned silence, and several people booed. A few days later, Gov. Jim McGreevey asked Baraka to resign his post as Poet Laureate of New Jersey. This year, Baraka returned to the festival, and read the poem again.

About half the audience stood to cheer when he was finished, while the other half was either clapping quietly, or sitting with arms crossed, scowling. Baraka hadn’t changed the poem, and the line that outraged so many people in 2002 was still there: “Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get bombed / Who told 4000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers / To stay home that day / Why did Sharon stay away?”

Who could imagine that 11 years later, his son would be featured in a conservative super PAC’s ad?

Something to keep in mind as New Jersey governor Chris Christie contemplates the decision of appointing an interim senator:

The state has 5,463,097 registered voters, as of May 7.

That total breaks down into:
2,608,636 unaffiliated voters (47 percent)
1,779,250 Democrats (32.5 percent)
1,070,906 Republicans (19.6 percent)

Christie’s done quite well in this heavily Democratic electorate — “63 percent of those surveyed in a recent Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press poll saying they approve of the job Christie is doing. That rating ticks slightly higher — 64 percent — among the coveted independents” — and so it’s unlikely he’ll pick anyone who would be seen as antagonistic to the state’s Democrats.

If Robert Costa is hearing from his sources that Christie will appoint a Republican, then it’s probably a safe bet. But Christie’s probably looking for the Republican most acceptable to the state’s Democratic voters.

Remember when the Citizens United court case was the root of all evil? Well, now a Democratic super PAC is suing to allow unlimited donations in their effort to help Democratic candidates for the state legislature:

A Washington DC “super PAC” has sued New Jersey’s campaign finance watchdog agency, saying the state can’t limit how much it can raise from an individual donor.

The Fund for Jobs and Growth filed the complaint against the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) in federal district court on Friday.

The group, organized under Section 527 of the IRS code, plans to make independent expenditures on behalf of Democratic state legislative candidates in this year’s election. It argues that under the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, it’s unconstitutional to limit how much money it can raise from an individual donor.

Last year, President Obama declared that the Citizens United decision was so harmful to society, that “I think we need to seriously consider mobilizing a constitutional amendment process to overturn Citizens United (assuming the Supreme Court doesn’t revisit it).”

Will he denounce an effort by allies within his own party to eliminate limits on donations to state campaigns?

A new poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University finds New Jersey governor Chris Christie clinging to his narrow lead over his Democratic challenger, state senator Barbara Buono, 58 percent to 22 percent.

Among self-described Democrats, Buono leads . . . 40 percent to 36 percent.

Christie is winning among women, 54 percent to 24 percent.

The pollsters summarize:

Although a blue state, a solid majority of Democrats (55%) and independents (61%) approve of the job Christie is doing and even more Republicans (83%) give the governor high marks. Other groups who are not considered likely suspects among his supporters include women (62%), those from union households (52%), and non-whites (56%).

A majority of voters are also pleased with the direction the state is headed. Fifty-seven percent say it’s headed in the right direction and, with the exception of the usual partisan differences, perceptions are largely positive across relevant demographic categories.

With numbers like these, the big question is, just how much money does the Democratic Governors Association want to spend in New Jersey this year? Or more specifically, how much do they have to spend to avoid the appearance that they’re giving up on this race, even though they’re sooner or later going to have to admit that with numbers like these, Buono amounts to a sacrificial lamb?

As Republicans watch New Jersey governor Chris Christie in the coming year, there are three facets to keep in mind.

1) Christie’s surge in popularity following Hurricane Sandy has not faded and in fact seems to be accelerating; this week Quinnipiac found him at a 74 percent job-approval rating (!) and 68 percent say he deserves reelection. Christie takes 30 to 35 percent of the Democratic vote. He’s already dissuaded Newark mayor Cory Booker from a gubernatorial bid, and he’s probably going to match up against little-known state senator Barbara Buono.

While it’s only January, it’s conceivable that Christie will waltz into reelection having largely neutered the opposition party, on a scale not seen since Bobby Jindal faced no major Democrat opponent in Louisiana in 2011.

2) There is no indication that Republicans in New Jersey have any problem with Christie, despite his recent criticism of other Republicans, embrace of Obama, etc. Quinnipiac found Christie’s approval/disapproval split among New Jersey Republicans was 93 percent to 4 percent, and 70 percent of Garden State GOP voters approve of Christie’s criticism of the House GOP.

3) With the GOP vote locked in, and looking strong among independents and even Democrats, Christie has absolutely no incentive to do anything particularly controversial or conservative in this state in the coming year.

This will infuriate some Republicans outside New Jersey — but criticism from Republicans outside the state will only help him with Democrats and independents inside the state.

Now, the big question will be, if reelected, does Chris Christie use his second term to reestablish himself as a voice of fiscal sanity and limited government spending, making tougher decisions that his new fans might not like? Or does he do the full Charlie Crist/Arlen Specter?

Quinnipiac’s latest survey refutes an argument that few, if any, were making: that adding Chris Christie to a Romney ticket would put New Jersey in the GOP pile.

With Gov. Christopher Christie as his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the GOP front-runner, cuts into President Barack Obama’s lead in New Jersey, but still falls short, trailing 49 – 43 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Without Gov. Christie, Romney trails President Obama 49 – 39 percent, the independent Quinnipiac University poll finds.

New Jersey voters support 56 – 33 percent Christie’s proposed 10 percent tax cut. Support is 83 – 11 percent among Republicans and 54 – 34 percent among independent voters. Democrats are opposed 51 – 38 percent. Support for the tax cut rises with household income.

Voters also say 55 – 31 percent the tax cut is fair to people like them. Democrats say unfair 48 – 38 percent.

“Gov. Christopher Christie says he’d be a terrible vice-president and we may never find out. Putting him on the ticket helps the Republicans a little, but not enough, in New Jersey. If the measure of a vice presidential pick is carrying his or her home state, then Gov. Christie comes up short,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“But voters continue to give the Gov good marks on how he’s doing his job in Trenton.

New Jersey voters approve 55 – 38 percent of the job Christie is doing as governor, compared to his all-time high of 58 – 38 percent October 12.

New Jersey voters approve 51 – 45 percent of the job Obama is doing, his best score in eight months, and say 51 – 44 percent he deserves four more years in the White House, also his best score so far.

Over on the home page, a look at what’s at stake in the legislative elections being held in Virginia and New Jersey this year. It goes well with last week’s article about Virginia’s Democrats in the state legislature fleeing when President Obama rolls through their district on his bus tour.