Buono Running Mate For NJ Governor Race is Female, Hispanic, Unionist
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- The Democratic challenger seeking to unseat New Jersey governor Chris Christie this fall has apparently settled on a running mate.
On Monday, state senator Barbara Buono is expected to announce her selection of a North Jersey union leader as her pick for lieutenant governor.
Milly Silva, 43, of Montclair, NJ, brings more than just youthful exuberance to a ticket that, frankly, needs help to cut into Christie's huge lead in the polls.
"The Buono campaign will definitely try and take advantage of the fact that they have a Latina -- a historic choice -- as the lieutenant governor candidate," says Ben Dworkin, a professor of political science at Rider University.
Plus, he notes, this would be the first all-female ticket in state history.
Perhaps most important, though, is Silva's labor connections, not just for any get-out-the-vote efforts but for the party's fundraising for the fall campaign.
