Morris senator for Trump, 'warts and all'

Most of the Republican legislators representing Morris County in Trenton are taking a wait-and-see attitude regarding the GOP presidential primary in the wake of Gov. Chris Christie’s exit from the 2016 election.

But one former Christie supporter has come out in favor of front-runner Donald Trump — Sen. Jospeh Pennacchio, who represents eight Morris municipalities along with portions of Essex and Passaic counties in the 26th District.

“He’s brash, vulgar at times, and questions arise whether he has the temperament to be president,” Pennacchio wrote in a statement last week. “Yet he has become a crucible for American’s anger and feeling of disenfranchisement from their government. The latter I hope can change, while the former I wish to embrace and support.”

Other Morris legislators, contacted last week before Christie made his surprise endorsement of Trump on Friday, were still reviewing the remaining candidates before making a choice.

SEE ALSO: Why Chris Christie changed his mind about Donald Trump http://dailyre.co/1pgOKjJ

Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-25), like Pennacchio, is “very disappointed” that Christie is out of the race, and has yet to throw his support to another candidate.

“I’m interested in seeing what happens on Super Tuesday,” said Bucco, referring to more than a dozen primaries and caucuses scheduled for Tuesday that could effectively decide the Republican nomination.

Bucco, though, has not ruled out the possibility of joining Pennacchio on the Trump bandwagon.

“I happen to like him,” Bucco said.

Bucco’s Assembly colleagues in the 25th are split at present on the race. Anthony M. Bucco, like his father, is back on the sidelines after backing the Christie campaign.

SEE EDITORIAL: Christie backs a ‘Showtime’ presidency http://dailyre.co/1QLvzL1 

“I’m glad that the field is starting to narrow and over the next few weeks I’ll start to figure out where I am going to be, because obviously I was for our governor,” Anthony M. Bucco said. “While the governor’s ratings here at home are certainly lower than they’ve ever been, I still believe he was well-qualified and well-suited to be president of the United States. When you look at his first term, what he was able to do with a Democratic legislature, it was amazing.”

Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-25), however, continues his previously declared support for Ted Cruz.

“While I think (Christie) would have made a great POTUS, my first choice was Cruz,” Carroll said. “I think he brings the best combination of philosophy and experience, the best chance to turn the country away from the catastrophic policies of the last eight years.”

Pennacchio disagrees with Trump on at least some immigration issues, but appreciates his strong stances on other key points.

“He is not the perfect candidate, no one is, but I believe that a new direction must be charted for this country,” Pennacchio wrote. “I disagree that he can deport 12 million illegal immigrants and believe that attempt will be tempered by the courts. However, putting America and our interests first as well as protecting us from our enemies is a cornerstone of his campaign. No disagreement there. No longer giving away the store to our economic competitors makes sense and is long overdue. Not being supported by the Republican establishment in my view is a plus, and is a primary reason for his success. For these and many other reasons I will be supporting Donald Trump for president. Warts and all.”

WATCH: Christie tries to change the mind of a Trump supporter http://dailyre.co/1S9qTOc

Sen. Kevin O’Toole, who represents Riverdale in the mostly non-Morris 40th district, is another strong Christie supporter still without a candidate since the governor’s exit, and will look to Christie for guidance in his choice for president.

“Gov. Christie is still the titular head of the party in New Jersey,” said O’Toole, who announced last year he will not seek re-election in 2016. “He still has his ear close to the ground. I will stick close to him.”

Both Buccos offered their perspective on the Christie campaign, which ended after another poor showing in the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9.

“I thought (Christie) did a great job in the debate before the primary,” Anthony R. Bucco said, referring to Christie’s attack on Marco Rubio. “He brought down Rubio’s numbers, but it also seemed to bring down his numbers. And I heard Rubio spent $5 million in one week (in New Hampshire) going after Christie. That didn’t help, either. I’m very disappointed that he didn’t do better.”

“I think there were a couple of things,” Anthony M. Bucco said. “One, I think Donald Trump sucked all the air out of the room when it came to the governor’s position and candidacy. Everybody thought the governor was the guy who would be the one who would tell it like it is and say things that weren’t really politically correct. But Donald Trump stepped into that role and made it even larger than the governor had made it. I think that drowned out a lot of what was going on.”

“Trump kind of occupied (Christie’s) space,” O’Toole observed. “In three decades of politics, I have never seen anything like what is unfolding now.”

The younger Bucco outlined what he is looking to see in a candidate.

“I want somebody who can lead the country in the right direction,” he said. “I want someone who can be charismatic in terms of being able to convey a message and have it understood. To be able to take complicated issues and explain them, and bring people to his side. Somebody with a strong personality that can work with Congress, bring people together and not be divisive. That’s what I’m looking for.”

EDITORIAL: Come 2017, it will be President Trump http://dailyre.co/1QFxWz0 

And if Trump wins the nomination?

“If Donald Trump’s the nominee, obviously I would support the (Republican) nominee no matter who it is,” he said.

Several other legislators representing Morris County did not respond to requests for comment on the race. A spokesperson for Assemblyman Jay Webber’s (R-26) office declined comment.

Staff Writer WilliamWesthoven: 973-917-9242;wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.