Hudson County NJ PVI Shifts 2004-2012

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

(2-Party PVI)
Bayonne: 2004 D+8, 2008 D+5, 2012 D+15
East Newark 2004 D+24, 2008 D+24, 2012 D+31!
Guttenberg: 2004 D+19, 2008 D+19, 2012 D+27
Harrison 2004 D+17, 2008 D+16, 2012 D+28!
Hoboken 2004 D+17, 2008 D+18, 2012 D+15
Jersey City 2004 D+28, 2008 D+29, 2012 D+35
Kearny 2004 D+9, 2008 D+8, 2012 D+18
North Bergen 2004 D+17, 2008 D+17, 2012 D+27
Secaucus 2004 D+2, 2008 EVEN, 2012 D+10
Union City: 2004 D+18, 2008 D+22, 2012 D+30
West New York: 2004 D+14, 2008 D+17, 2012 D+26

This is interesting as Hoboken has become more affluent while most of the towns have gone the other way. Demographic change, the Hurricane and almost no Romney Democrats probably account for some of the swing.

  yeah.  Union city is heavily Hispanic.  But secaucus surprises me.  Also note hoboken getting lower + d average gradually.

Well, Hoboken is getting richer and richer. It used to be a minority heavy place. Now, only rich people can afford the stellar view of New York City, and it's basically another arm of the city. And while these folks aren't very Republican, they're slightly more Republican than the old line minorities they're replacing.

Let's also say that urban New Jersey was heavily impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Obama came to the rescue, and it looked like the GOP (save for Christie) was disingenuine when it came to helping the state out.

Not surprising.  Is there any other state, by it's very nature, that is more at odds with the makeup of today's Republican Party?  I would guess that your typical Republican hates NJ with a passion.  

Ironically, the very areas hit hardest by Sandy are the only ones in the state where you find large concentrations of GOP support.