Gov. Christie Scores Big Numbers Along Jersey Shore in Win Over Barbara Buono

Gov. Chris Christie’s strong showing up and down the Jersey Shore was a reflection of his overall lopsided win over Democratic challenger Barbara Buono Tuesday night.

In both Ocean and Cape May counties, Christie scored over 70 percent of the vote, reaching 75.67 percent in Ocean County. In Atlantic County, Christie scored 62.63 percent of the vote.

In Cape May County, 50 percent of registered voters made their way to the polls, and nearly 45 percent of voters hit the polls in Ocean County. Overall, voter turnout in the state has been described as “abysmal,” and this was reflected in Atlantic County, where less than 40 percent of registered voters hit the polls.

In Ocean County, where many communities were devastated by Sandy just over a year ago, Christie collected 125,362 votes. Buono amassed 37,782 votes, as 169,275 of the 379,230 registered voters, or 44.64 percent, hit the polls.

In Atlantic County, 66,903 of the 176,696 registered voters hit the polls. Christie won 40,384 votes. Buono’s best showing along the shore was in this area, where she collected 22,990 votes.

Christie and President Barack Obama visited Atlantic County, specifically Brigantine, two days after Sandy hit the Jersey Shore on Oct. 29, 2012. Brigantine had no local elections on Tuesday, and no specific information for turnout on the barrier island was immediately available.

In Cape May County, Buono hit just 8,755 votes, while Christie reached 23,425 of the 169,275 voters who hit the polls. A total of 379,230 Cape May County residents are registered to vote.

 There was also a special election less than a month ago, in which the state registered 24 percent total turnout for Democrat Cory Booker’s victory over Republican Steve Lonegan.