New Jersey Republicans call Obama campaign efforts ‘fake excitement’

President Barack Obama’s campaign effort in New Jersey to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s run for Garden State governor was a “Hail Mary” from Democrats that generated “false enthusiasm,” conservative voters told Fox News Digital at a Turning Point Action rally in South Jersey Monday afternoon.

“I will say this as an African American, we are done hearing Barack Obama try to tell us how we are supposed to vote,” New Jersey voter Shawn Crump told Fox News Digital Monday afternoon. “Because, frankly, I was a Democrat. I worked on his campaign in 2008, and he just failed us. He failed this country, but more importantly he failed a lot of African Americans. So we really don’t want to hear him tell us how we were supposed to do it.”

Crump was among a group of Republican voters who traveled to Medford, New Jersey, Monday afternoon for a Turning Point Action rally aimed at mobilizing more support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the final hours before Election Day. The rally was billed as a “Super Chase” event, where community members then turn out to remind voters to submit their ballots. Ciattarelli did not attend this specific gathering.

Attendees heard from local conservative leaders before hitting the road to knock on doors and remind people to get out and vote in the final hours of the election.

OBAMA’S PRESENCE AND TRUMP’S POLICIES CONSUME 11TH HOUR RALLY TO KEEP NJ BLUE

New Jersey Republican voters spoke to Fox News Digital from Medford, New Jersey, on November 3, 2025, about the highly anticipated gubernatorial election. (Fox News Digital)

Obama traveled Saturday evening to Newark, New Jersey, where he held a rally with Democratic candidate Sherrill. New Jersey is a historically deep blue state that previously voted to elect a Republican governor in 2013, when former Governor Chris Christie was elected, and previously voted to elect a Republican president in 1988, when George HW Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.

“Let’s face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now,” Obama told the audience Saturday, lashing out at President Donald Trump and his administration. “It’s hard to know where to start, because every day the White House offers us a new batch of lawlessness, recklessness and pettiness. And just plain old follies.”

SHERRILL INSISTS NJ DEM FORTRESS AHEAD OF OBAMA VISIT, REJECTING GOP MOMENTUM: ‘NOT A PURPLE STATE’

Republicans are on a mission to turn the state red and are motivated by Trump’s inroads with Jersey voters in 2024. Trump narrowed his 2020 defeat from 16 points in the state to six points in 2024 and flipped five counties to the GOP.

Former President Barack Obama speaks during a “Get Out the Vote” rally for New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) at Essex County College Gymnasium November 1, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Joe Sereday, chairman of the Burlington County Young Republicans, reported to Fox Digital that enthusiasm was high among voters voting for Ciattarelli and added that Obama’s campaign in the state signals desperation for the party in a historically blue state.

“I think it’s old news now,” Sereday said, adding that Obama deserves respect as a former president, but that he sees problems in the campaign efforts. “Usually when Democrats recruit these big names — Obama, who else was here, Andy Kim, Cory Booker — it usually means they’re in trouble.”

WITH A LEGACY ON THE LINE, OBAMA HITS THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATS IN KEY GOVERNOR ELECTIONS

He added: “Usually when they bring in Obama and the duds, they hate to talk about some of the duds, it usually means they’re desperate.”

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy leads a campaign event for New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli October 15, 2025, in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. (Paul Steinhauser-Fox News)

Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance and founder of the PA Chase and NJ Chase election campaigns, told Fox Digital that Obama’s presence in New Jersey was a “Hail Mary” from Democrats.

“I just think this is all AstroTurf. I think it’s false excitement,” said Maloney, who attended the rally as a speaker to mobilize New Jersey voters. “They’re just hyping it up and trying to sensationalize it. Nobody’s excited about (Sherrill). And that’s something you can’t fix.”

“You can bring in an Obama. You can bring in anyone. At the end of the day, New Jersey has an 800,000 registration advantage over the Democrats and we’re here in this state to tell you it’s competitive,” Maloney added. “So win or lose, the fact that this is a place where Democrats have to spend resources and time and energy and money, it’s not even supposed to be a competitive race. We’re in a bind right now. We’re in the game. It’s a competitive grace. And if Jack makes it, it’s going to be an earth-shattering moment in the political world.”

New Jersey’s notoriously high taxes and skyrocketing energy costs are voters’ top concerns, with residents telling Fox Digital that protecting Christianity and “truth” is also on the agenda in 2025.

SHERRILL PUTS EVERYTHING IN PLACE WITH OBAMA’S SUPPORT, STAR-STUDDED NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN GROWS AS RACE TIGHTENS

“My concerns are actually about Christianity, not telling people the truth, obviously abortion and our kids in school, they need to be taught things that are really truthful,” Valerie, a local South Jersey voter, told Fox News Digital.

Former President Barack Obama during a campaign event for New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill, not pictured, in Newark, New Jersey, November 1, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“I feel like we’re going to flip the state,” she added. “I hope a lot of Republican voters come out and don’t stay home, because if they do, I think we’ll win.”

Local voter and pastor Jeff Kliewer told Fox Digital that pro-life and homeschooling issues also factored into voting decisions.

“The pro-life issue remains huge,” Kliewer said. “It’s one of the biggest. And for us in New Jersey, a number of pregnancy centers have been attacked by the Democratic machine led by Phil Murphy, and it’s only going to get worse if they have power. So I know a lot of the leaders of these pregnancy centers are trying to help girls, but they’re under constant pressure. So that’s the problem.”

“Second, homeschooling families, there’s a lot of red tape that’s being brought against homeschooling. Although New Jersey is one of the freest states when it comes to homeschooling, that could change if we don’t keep good people in power here,” he continued, adding that taxes are at the top of most voters’ minds when they go to the polls.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli answers questions during the first gubernatorial debate of the general election with Democratic opponent Mikie Sherrill, September 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (Noah K. Murray/Associated Press)

Turning Point Action field representative Noah Formica, who is originally from Pennsylvania and traveled to New Jersey to bolster mobilization efforts, explained that the “Super Chase” event is designed to inspire residents to motivate their neighbors to vote.

“It’s a group of people coming together. They listen to a few speakers talk about action, and then we get directly involved in our communities,” he said.

“Every door we knock on, right here in New Jersey, makes a world of difference. Just voter contact. And we have almost 60 people here, so if every person here knocks on 15 doors, imagine the impact that will have on a local race,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

New Jersey’s elections will take place on Tuesday, with polls opening at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and closing at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Sherrill campaign about the voter comments but did not immediately receive a response.