News from across the river

A pile of things to blog today, but for a change I thought I'd start with news from New Jersey (from the Inquirer):

1. One piece decries the mess that the state races have become from a starting intention of "clean elections." A new law hoped to involve more small donors but has ended up skewing the odds in some general elections and making everyone testy. (The best solution might rely on one party supporting the candidates from the other party! eesh.) Advice on what not to do in pursuit of clean elections, I suppose.
   
   
2. Meanwhile, the outcome of NJ's gubenatorial race could determine the fate of a statewide smoking ban, among other issues. The acting governor had hoped to hurry the current bill through in his lame-duck session, but oddly it has been controversial enough to require more time and battles...