With the November election just 15 days out, the Republican nominee in one of the nation’s only two races for governor this year is feeling confident. “The energy across the state is electric. The reception in minority communities has been great, and on being endorsed by prominent Democrats, that tells you all you need to know in terms of the people of New Jersey wanting change. And that’s...

Government shutdowns can be pretty boring. Until a shutdown impacts you. There’s a missed paycheck. Flight delays. You can’t visit the Smithsonian. Questions about food and drug safety. You get the idea. But until you reach that tipping point, most Americans are ho-hum about government shutdowns and interpret the infighting between Democrats and Republicans as de rigueur on Capitol Hill. So they don’t pay much mind to them....