>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS IS PROVIDED BY AN JM INSURANCE GROUP.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND BY THE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT AND J.

FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HE IS CONCEDING TODAY BUT HE WILL BE BACK IN FOUR YEARS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

THAT IS THE WORD FROM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE JACK CIATTARELLI , BRINGING THE TIGHT RACE FOR GOVERNOR TO AN END.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I AM LEAH MISHKIN IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THIS AFTERNOON, CIATTARELLI CALLED GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS REELECTION.

OFFICIALLY ENDING HIS RUN.

THE CIATTARELLI MESSAGE WAS CLEAR , DESPITE THE LOSS HE CONSIDERS THIS A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.

>> WE ALMOST DID WIN.

BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE TIME MISGUIDED POLITICIANS TAKE THE STATE TO FAR OFF TRACK, THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THIS STATE PUSH, PULL AND GET IT RIGHT BACK TO WHERE IT BELONGS, RIGHT BACK TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

COMMON SENSE.

I DO NOT SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION AS A FAILURE.

ON THE CONTRARY.

I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED.

PROUD OF HOW WE HELPED REINVIGORATE THE PARTY AND MOBILIZE NEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED BEFORE.

WE SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION WE SENT A VERY POWERFUL MESSAGE TO THE NATION.

OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE, WE ARE TIRED OF HYPER PARTISANSHIP, DIVISIVENESS, TONE DEAFNESS, DISMISSING REAL CONCERNS.

>> CIATTARELLI TEAM WAS WAITING FOR ALL THE VOTES TO BE COUNTED TO SEE IF THE MARGIN WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO RECOUNT.

AND THEN HE COULD SEE IF YOU COULD STILL WIN.

BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE, SO NOW HIS ATTENTION TURNS TO THE RACE IN 2025.

JOINING US NOW IS CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL ARON AND COLLEEN O'DAY.

MICHAEL, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR JACK CIATTARELLI.

IS THIS RACE CLOSER THAN YOU EXPECTED?

>> ABSOLUTELY, SO MUCH CLOSER THAN EVERYBODY IN THE POLITICAL WORLD EXPECTED.

AND I THINK THE BIG NEWS COMING OUT OF HIS CONCESSION PRESS CONFERENCE IS THAT HE IS RUNNING AGAIN IN FOUR YEARS.

TRADITIONALLY, YOU GET TWO BITES AT THE APPLE, YOU RUN ONCE, YOU LOSE AND YOU RUN AGAIN, HE WILL GO FOR THREE TIMES AND HE LOOKS LIKE A NOMINEE ALREADY.

>> DO YOU THINK HE CAN DO IT IN FOUR YEARS?

MIGHT IT BE POSSIBLE OTHER TIME THE CHARM?

>> ABSOLUTELY, FOUR YEARS IS FAR AWAY, WHO KNOWS WHO WILL BE STILL STANDING AND WHAT THE ISSUES WILL BE.

WE KNOW PROPERTY TAXES WILL STILL BE AN ISSUE.

BUT I COULD SEE STEVE SWEENEY AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND JACK CIATTARELLI AS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN 2025 AND THAT WOULD BE A OF A RACE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE THEM SAY OKAY, LET'S CONCEDE?

>> THEY WERE DOWN ABOUT 75,000 VOTES, ALMOST 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT A 1% MARGIN.

IF THEY WERE WITHIN 1%, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY YOU COULD FIND VOTES IN THE RECOUNT.

IN RECOUNTS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, THEY DON'T CHANGE THAT MUCH.

THEY DO CHANGE A LITTLE BUT THE NUMBERS JUST WEREN'T THERE FOR HIM.

>> WE SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT IT'S A BIG DEAL THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS REELECTED FOR THE SECOND TIME.

>> IT IS A BIG DEAL.

AND YET, IT WAS SO MUCH CLOSER THAT PEOPLE EXPECTED.

THE GOVERNOR GOT SCARED, HE DIDN'T GET DEFEATED BUT HE HAD TO HAVE A SCARE WHEN CIATTARELLI LOOKED LIKE HE WOULD PULL OFF THE UPSET.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE RESPONDS TO THIS BIT OF PUSHBACK ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

WILL YOU STILL GO FOR A PRODUCTIVE, WILL HE STILL GO FOR PRISON REFORM?

HOW MUCH WILL HE BEND HIS LIBERAL PRINCIPLES IN RESPONSE TO THIS VOTE?

>> WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE STATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

>> IT SAYS REPUBLICAN PARTY USED TO BE THE PARTY OF THE COUNTRY CLUB AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS THE PARTY OF THE WORKING MAN.

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE PARTY OF THE WORKING MAN AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF THE WOKE FACULTY, AS SOME HAVE BEEN SAYING LATELY.

>> ANY FINAL WORDS?

>> I MEAN CERTAINLY, MICHAEL IS RIGHT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOUTH JERSEY.

I AM NOT SURE IT'S THE SAME IN NORTH JERSEY.

BUT HE DID WIN IN SOMERSET COUNTY, WHICH IS CIATTARELLI COUNTY.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT COME OUT IN THE NUMBERS IN THOSE PLACES AS THEY DID IN REPUBLICAN COUNTIES.

PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH JERSEY.

SO THERE IS A WHOLE NEW POLITICAL MAP WE ARE LOOKING AT AND WE WILL ALL BE SEEING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR WHEN CONGRESS IS UP FOR ELECTION.

>> THANK YOU BOTH, IT IS A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU.

>>> THIS RACE WAS POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST UPSET IN NEW JERSEY HISTORY.

TRUCK DRIVER EDWARD YOUR DEFEATING STEVE SWEENEY ON A SHOESTRING CAMPAIGN BUDGET.

THE NEWLY ELECTED STATE SENATOR SHARED HIS FEELINGS ON THE RACE AND HIS POSITION ON SOME KEY STATE ISSUES IN A SITDOWN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID CRUZ THIS WEEK.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE PAST HAVE OFFENDED PEOPLE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WATCHING US RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU WANT TO REINTRODUCE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT AND AROUND THE STATE?

>> I AM A FATHER OF THREE, GRANDFATHER OF SIX, FOR THE MOST PART I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR OFFENDING ANYONE, BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, YOU GET BEHIND A KEYBOARD AND YOU JUST TYPE THINGS.

THE DIFFERENCE IS, NOW I HAVE CHOSEN TO GET OUT FROM BEHIND THE KEYBOARD AND GET INTO THE TRENCHES AND BE A WARRIOR AND FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> YOU HAD A MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

HOW HAS YOUR THINKING INVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

>> YOU GUYS KEEP GOING BACK AND TRYING TO BEAT THAT ALL THE WAY, IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS MOVING FORWARD.

YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO IGNORES, WHO TOLD EVERYBODY THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS ABOVE THE PAYGRADE.

IT'S FOR EVERYBODY AND IT'S NOT ABOVE YOUR PAYGRADE BECAUSE YOU SWEAR AN OATH TO IT.

SO YOU BETTER LEARN IT AND FOLLOW IT.

>> ARE YOU WHAT PEOPLE WOULD CALL A TRUMPER?

DO YOU BELIEVE JOE BIDEN IS THE LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT?

>> JOE BIDEN WAS SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDENT.

>> BUT YOU ACCEPTED IT?

>> JOE BIDEN WAS SWORN IN AS THE PRESIDENT.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY CALLED YOU DANGEROUS.

ARE YOU?

>> I AM GOING TO BE DANGEROUS TO GOVERNOR MURPHY, BECAUSE I WILL FIGHT HIS AGENDA AT EVERY TURN.

BECAUSE HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

THAT IS CLEAR.

BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO SPENT -- SENT SICK PATIENTS BACK INTO NURSING HOMES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF NEARLY 10,000 ELDERLY.

HE'S THE ONE WHO CLOSED BUSINESSES, RESULTING IN THE SHUTDOWN OF NEARLY 1/3 OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

HE IS THE ONE PLACING MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

HE IS THE ONE WHO TELLS YOU YOU CANNOT GO TO CHURCH.

HE IS THE ONE WHO TELLS YOU YOU CAN'T HAVE THINGS GIVING WITH YOUR FAMILY.

>> WHERE WOULD YOUR VOTE BE ON REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES?

>> I WILL NOT DEAL IN HYPOTHETICALS.

MY VOTE WILL BE WHEN I VOTE.

THAT'S WHEN I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ON CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS WITH SUBPOENA POWER?

>> I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BACK THE BLUE.

>> THE UNITED STATES BORDER OPENING BACK UP TO VACCINATED INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS.

MANY EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY 2 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK IN.

ALSO, NONIMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AMERICA WHO CAN NOW RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES TO VISIT.

THEY SAID THEY HAVE WAITED MONTHS FOR THE U.S. TO RELAX COVID RESTRICTIONS AND LET THEM BACK IN.

SO WHO IS HEADING TO JERSEY?

>> WE HAVE TO GO TO JERSEY FOR THAT.

>> BUT THEY FLEW IN FROM TORONTO WITH A MAINLY NEW YORK FOCUS.

>> YOU'RE HAVING HER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, TRY OUT SOME DIFFERENT FOOD.

>> GUCCI STOCKINGS.

AND SNEAKERS, BECAUSE I FIGURED NEW YORK WILL HAVE A BETTER SUPPLY.

>> HAPPY REUNIONS ELATED MOST TRAVELERS ARRIVING HERE THIS MORNING.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE PASSENGERS WHO MUST SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION AND NEGATIVE TEST HUGGED FAMILY AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING.

BETWEEN REUNIONS, WE CAUGHT UP WITH SEVERAL TRAVELERS FROM CANADA WHICH PROVIDES 20 TO 25% OF TOURISM BUSINESS DOWN THE SHORE.

MID-NOVEMBER, IT IS NOT REALLY TOPPING THEIR ITINERARY.

>> WE HAVE THREE DAYS OF BROADWAY SHOWS.

>> A COUPLE RESTAURANTS, WE ARE STAYING IN LOWER MANHATTAN SO MAYBE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, WALKING AROUND WALL STREET.

>> JUST HAVE A LOOK AROUND AND MAYBE A LITTLE SHOPPING AND RELAX.

>> UNITED AIRLINES SAYS TRANSATLANTIC BOOKINGS HAVE SPIKED OVER 2019 LEVELS BUT ARE OFFERING HOPE TO BUSINESSES DESPERATE FOR TOURISTS.

>> THAT MARKET DISAPPEARING DURING COVID WAS DEVASTATING TO THE INDUSTRY.

LODGING TOOK A BIG HIT.

DURING THE TIME THAT COVID WAS AT ITS HEIGHT, HOSPITALITY RESTAURANTS, VENUES, ARTS AND CULTURAL VENUES ALL TOOK AN EXTREMELY HARD HIT.

>> JERSEY TOURISM ALSO STRUGGLED TO REBOUND AFTER SUPER STORM SANDY DESPITE A CONTROVERSIAL $25 MILLION AD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY THEN GOVERNOR CHRISTIE.

LEGISLATION TO SPARK A TOURISM REVIVAL ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE WOULD SPEND 25 MILLION ON A NEW AD CAMPAIGN TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THAT THE STATES TOURISM DESTINATIONS ARE OPEN AND SAFE.

I WOULD SPECIFICALLY PROMOTE INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC SUCH AS FOOD AND LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS.

>> TO TELL THE RETURN TO TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY AND INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL MARKETS.

>> TIMING IS EVERYTHING, IT COULD TAKE TIME FOR THE REOPENED BORDER TO GENERATE RETURNS.

>> THE DIRECT IMPACT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH IMMEDIATELY BUT KNOWING THAT BORDERS ARE OPEN GOING INTO THE SPRING WILL CERTAINLY INFLUENCE WHERE SOME OF THE MARKETING DOLLARS ARE GOING NOW.

THEY ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT THAT CONSUMER BEFORE THEY MAKE A PURCHASING DECISION.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS IN BLOOMFIELD THIS MORNING TO ANNOUNCE A $65 MILLION PLAN TO BUY AN ABANDONED RAILWAY IN NORTH JERSEY.

IT WILL BE TURNED INTO A LINEAR STATE PARK.

IT WILL STRETCH ALMOST 9 MILES THROUGH ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES, RUNNING FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY AND BLASTING THROUGH BLOOMFIELD, KEARNY, AND NEWARK ALONG THE WAY.

MURPHY CALLED THE NEW PARK A LEGACY ACHIEVEMENT.

LOCAL LEADERS ALSO NOTED THE PROJECT WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE IN THE AREA TO COMMUTE BY BIKE.

WHICH IN TURN MEANS LESS CARS ON THE ROAD AND POLLUTION.

NO WORD YET WHEN THE NEW PARK WILL OPEN OR HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO BUILD BEYOND THE PRICE TO BUY THE LAND.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS BACK IN THE HEADLINES, NOT FOR ITS VACCINE.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE DETAILS .

>> IT IS A MAJOR BREAK UP FOR BIG PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN NEW JERSEY.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON ANNOUNCED IT WILL SPLIT INTO TWO PUBLIC COMPANIES.

ONE COMPANY COMPRISED OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS, THE OTHER MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESSES AND THAT ONE WILL CONTAIN THE J&J NAME.

THERE IS NO NEW NAME YET FOR THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANY.

THE BREAKUP WILL ALLOW TO BETTER SERVE ITS CUSTOMERS.

COME THIS MONDAY, THE MORATORIUM ON HOMEOWNER FORECLOSURES WILL COME TO AN END.

FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN ADMITTED THROUGH THIS PERIOD BUT NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.

LENDERS ARE OFFERING MORTGAGE FORBEARANCE AND FINANCIAL PROTECTIONS THROUGH A GRACE PERIOD.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE HOLDS ANOTHER VOTING SESSION ON MONDAY TO TRY TO CLEAR OUT BILLS IN THE LAME-DUCK SESSION.

I SPOKE WITH CHIEF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER ABOUT THAT.

>> FOR THE LAME-DUCK SESSION, WE ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO PLEASE PAUSE ON ANY ADDITIONAL MANDATES ON SMALL BUSINESS, TO WORK WITH US IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR WORKFORCE BACK TO WORK AND PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO SEE HOW THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE SPENT MOVING FORWARD.

>> LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO HELP REVIVE THE ECONOMY BY INVESTING IN TOURISM.

THE BILL SEEKS TO IMPACT STATE SPENDING BY 25 MILLION FOR NEW TOURISM ADS.

THERE IS NO LET UP TO THE GREAT RESIGNATION, A RECORD 4.4 MILLION PEOPLE QUIT THEIR JOBS IN SEPTEMBER, AND MILLIONS MORE OPEN JOB POSITIONS THAN THERE ARE JOBSEEKERS TO FILL THEM.

NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WALL STREET ENDED THE WEEK.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

>>> MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND -- TURN INTO NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER THIS WEEKEND.

EXPLORING HOW SPORTS TEAMS OPERATE OFF THE FIELD AND BEHIND THE SCENES DID SHE TALKED TO INDUSTRY LEADERS ON THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING A TEAM IN NEW JERSEY.

CHECK IT OUT ON A NJ PBS .

>>> IT IS THE LAST DAY OF COP 26 AND THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE ON SCOTLAND AS GLOBAL LEADERS WORK TO FINALIZE A NEW AGREEMENT TO HOLD GLOBAL WARMING TO 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS.

THE INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT HAS BEEN CALLED THE WORLD'S LAST BEST CHANCE TO AVOID THE MOST DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

LEADERS OF THE MOST AT RISK NATIONS HAVE CRITICIZED THESE STEPS ANNOUNCE SO FAR AS NOT DOING ENOUGH.

JERSEY CONGRESSMAN FRANK RECENTLY RETURNED AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND THE CHALLENGES THAT REMAIN.

WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF MAJOR AGREEMENTS OUT OF GLASGOW INCLUDING COMMITMENTS TO CUT METHANE AND END FINANCING FOR COAL DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST NEWS FOR THE STATE?

>> I THINK THE METHANE REDUCTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

IT'S A GOOD ONE TO BRING UP BECAUSE IT IS INTERNATIONAL ACTION, BUT ALSO IN OUR LEGISLATION WHICH WE HOPE TO PASS NEXT WEEK, THERE IS AN EMISSION REDUCTION PLAN THAT MY COMMITTEE PUT INTO BUILD BACK BETTER.

AND THAT WOULD MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION.

AND THE PRESIDENT JUST ANNOUNCED ABOUT A WEEK AGO THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS FROM GAS INDUSTRIES.

IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE CONFERENCE INTERNATIONALLY SETS AN AGENDA TO REDUCE METHANE AT THE SAME TIME, THE PRESIDENT DOES IT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION AND CONGRESS ACTS ON IT TO THE PLAN.

>> BUT THERE HAS BEEN CRITICISM IN THE CONFERENCE INCLUDING FROM THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL THAT THE WORLD NATIONS ARE FALLING SHORT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES?

>> WHEN WE MET WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, HE WAS VERY OPTIMISTIC.

HE MENTIONED WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, BUT THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS ALWAYS REDUCTION OF FOSSIL FUELS, HOW TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM UTILITIES AND OTHER SOURCES.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING WAS THAT THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ACTUALLY SAID THAT WE HAVE TO REDUCE FOSSIL FUELS WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME THAT HAS EVEN BEEN MENTIONED.

SO THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND A GOOD SIGN AND ALSO THE SPECIAL ENVOY ANNOUNCED WITH CHINA, IN THE BEGINNING IF YOU REMEMBER THE CHINESE WERE NOT PARTICIPATING MUCH IN THE CONFERENCE, THE CHINESE LEADER DIDN'T COME BUT HE HAD NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT THAT SAID THAT CHINA AND THE U.S. WOULD WORK TOGETHER.

SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO REACH THIS GOAL OF NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT REDUCTION OF 1.5 CELSIUS.

THAT IS WHY THE GENERAL SAYS WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.

>>> WE END TONIGHT WITH A STORY OF DETERMINATION.

A U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN IS RUNNING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND BRAIN DISEASE.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER CAUGHT UP TO HIM AS HE MADE HIS WAY THROUGH NEW JERSEY BEFORE CROSSING THE FINISH LINE.

>> Reporter: IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR JORDAN MOON, THE AMERICAN RUNNER.

>> I AM AN OLDER RUNNER, IN MY PREVIOUS YEARS I WAS PLAYING THIS OUT, SAYING ONE DAY I WANT TO RUN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS I'M GETTING OLDER, I SAID WHY NOT GO FOR IT NOW.

>> HE MOVED TO UTAH FOR A YEAR TO PROPERLY TRAIN HIS BODY AT HIGH ALTITUDES, THEN ON SEPTEMBER 2nd THEY TOOK OFF FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BEGIN TREKKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MAKING IT TO NEW JERSEY ON DAY 71.

>> THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT ALL MY AMAZING SUPPORT.

>> THE U.S. AIR FORCE VETERAN CROSSED THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AND AFTER 3100 MILES OF RUNNING FINALLY REACHED HIS GOAL.

NEW YORK CITY.

>> IT IS JUST RUN, EAT, SLEEP.

EVERY 20 MILES I HAVE A BIG MEAL.

EVERY SINGLE MILE I HAVE SOME SORT OF FOOD, BERRIES, A BANANA, ENERGY DRINK.

ONCE WE GOT INTO A RHYTHM, WE DEVELOPED MOMENTUM AND THAT HAS CARRIED US 11 STATES.

>> A DIFFICULT JOURNEY WITH A PURPOSE CLOSE TO HIS HEART.

>> MY GREATEST MENTOR WAS MY GRANDFATHER, HE HAD A STROKE A FEW YEARS BACK AND PASSED AWAY AND THAT HIT ME SO HARD.

AND KIND OF ROCKED MY WORLD.

RIGHT NOW, MY GRANDMOTHER IS BATTLING DEMENTIA AND I SAID IF I AM GOING TO ATTEMPT THIS, POTENTIALLY BREAK THE WORLD RECORD, I AM GOING TO BRING AWARENESS AND TRY TO RAISE MONEY FOR BRAIN DISEASE RESEARCH.

>> ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN BRAIN FOUNDATION, ONE IN EVERY SIX PEOPLE WORLDWIDE SUFFERS FROM A BRAIN DISEASE OR DISORDER.

THAT INCLUDES ALZHEIMER'S, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND EPILEPSY.

HE IS ALSO HOPING TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, DEDICATING THIS RUN TO A FRIEND WHO TOOK HIS LIFE.

>> NO MATTER HOW HARD TIMES GET, YOU CAN GET THROUGH THEM BUT YOU NEED SUPPORT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SHOWING, BECAUSE THROUGH HARD, DIFFICULT TIMES I HAVE HIT DEPRESSING MOMENTS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH INJURY.

I GOT ANOTHER INJURY IN IOWA AND THOSE TIMES WENT PRETTY DARK.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO FINISH FOR HOW MUCH PAIN I WAS IN.

BUT MY CREW LIFTED ME UP, SAID THE MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE AND WE HAVE BEEN AVERAGING ABOUT 45 A DAY.

IT HAS JUST BEEN SURREAL.

AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> INITIALLY LOOKING TO BREAK THE WORLD RECORD IN LESS THAN 42 DAYS BUT HE SAYS HE IS JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE COMPLETED IT IN 71 AND HOPES HE CAN INSPIRE OTHERS TO NEVER GIVE UP.

I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK, TUNE IN TO REPORT HIS ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ SATURDAY AT 6:00 AND SUNDAY AT 10 A.M. YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NEWLY ELECTED STATE SENATOR AT 6:30 SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING AT 10:30.

I AM LEAH MISHKIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS WEEK.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH .

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTEAD AND PSEG .

OMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT.

BY ORSTEAD AND PSEG .

WILL PROVIDE RENEWABLE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

JOBS.

EDUCATION.

SUPPLY CHAIN.

AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GARDEN STATE.

COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.