Activist group in Montclair has dubbed local surrogates for Monday night's debate.
MONTCLAIR -- The note cards are prepped with the latest campaign talking points. Attacks and rebuttals have been rehearsed. A moderator is in place.
The only things missing from the Democratic Party presidential primary debate Monday in Montclair are the candidates.
Representatives from Bluewave NJ, a liberal activist group based in the township, said the organization wanted to host a debate between Democratic candidate frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. But, since New Jersey is one of the last states in the country to host its primary election, Bluewave president Marcia Marley said the group had to improvise.
Marley said she worked with the Clinton and Sanders campaigns to designate New Jersey public officials who could stand in as surrogates and debate national and state issues on behalf of the two candidates. They landed on Loretta Weinberg, the N.J. Senate Majority Leader, and John Wisniewski, New Jersey Assembly Deputy Speaker.
"Candidates having surrogates represent them is nothing new," Wisniewski, an N.J. superdelegate who serves as the New Jersey chair for the Sanders campaign, said in a phone interview.
"I'm not going to do a Larry David (impression of Sanders) and try to sound or speak like him, that's not what it's about."
The purpose of the surrogate debate, Marley said, is to engage voters in New Jersey, and to give them a forum to ask questions to the national campaigns. Debate moderator Jonathan Alter, an author and TV news correspondent, said he plans to ask prepared questions, and solicit some from the audience to ask the faux candidates.
To prepare to answer as Hillary would, Weinberg said she is both collaborating with the campaign, and doing her own research into Clinton's platforms.
"It can be very difficult," Weinberg said of being a surrogate. "You have to keep your own thoughts and feelings out of what you are talking about."
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Still, both candidates said they hope for a "spirited" debate. And, according to Bluewave, topics of discussion will include gun control, immigration, Wall Street reform and criminal justice.
The debate marks the second of its kind the group has hosted. In 2008, a surrogate debate between then-candidates Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton was carried out by then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker and State Senator Nia Gill.
"It's a way of informing New Jersey citizens (about the presidential election). It gives them a way to participate," Marley said.
"And, it's supposed to be fun."
The Bluewave debate, which costs $10 for non-member admission, is happening Monday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Church Street in Montclair.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.