With one debate down and one more to go, voters get a chance this weekend to hear more about the race for New Jersey Governor on public broadcasting's State of Affairs with Steve Adubato.
Adubato is the Emmy Award-winning anchor on State of Affairs, author of Lessons in Leadership and the host of WBGO's Saturday morning program "One on One."
The one-hour special, which airs on NJ PBS, News 12 New Jersey and Thirteen, will include two 30-minute individual interviews with Governor Phil Murphy and Republic nominee Jack Ciattarelli (Check your local listings for dates and start times).
Adubato joined WBGO Journal host Doug Doyle to talk about the race and preview the special.
"I'm just glad we have a race where two people are engaging on the issues, and when there's an election on November 2, there's a good chance someone will win and the other person will recognize that. What an amazing accomplishment!"
The veteran public broadcasting host says both men did not let down their guard during their separate interviews.
"In my mind I'm thinking I'm going to get them to be candid. I'm going to get beyond the bullet points and the sound bites and what they say in their 30-second commercials. I don't think I really accomplished that. It's not really about me. These two guys are so well rehearsed in how they're going to frame. not just an issue and their position on an issue, but how they frame the other person. There are so focused, and their handlers have helped them and coached them to pivot and attack the other person. I wanted to get past that and try to understand where these substantive issues, but the truth is it's pretty canned stuff."
Adubato, who once dreamed of becoming a young governor in New Jersey, first won an assembly seat in the State Legislature when he was 25. He lost his seat two years later. He stresses he couldn't even image being a politician in today's world.
"I never ran for office again and the further I got away from it and closer it got to what it has become, not only would I not run, but I would discourage my sons and our daughter from being engaged in electoral politics."
You can see the entire conversation here.
