A recent video of The Hudson Reporter Hoboken mayoral candidates’ round table got a lot of play in other media even before it aired.

This is not because of anything one candidate said, but rather what Dawn Zimmer didn’t say.

Although accounts of her response vary even among people in the same room during the interview, what could not be mistaken was the intensely negative body language she expressed in response to a simple question: Who is your favorite Beatle?

Zimmer decided not to answer the question, and agreed that it might not be relevant.

Although Bob Greene, a nationally syndicated columnist (as well as others) claim the Beatles have become an American myth, stretching their influence beyond the Baby Boom generation, it might be argued that Zimmer had no particular knowledge of the Beatles or opinions regarding any of them as individuals. But her shocked reaction spoke volumes about her inability to cope with a surprise question.

Understand that candidates do not come to debates in order to enlighten the public. Zimmer and her rival for the position as Mayor of Hoboken, Peter Cammarano, came to the debate in order leave a particular view of their character in the public mind.

Cammarano needed to persuade the public that he is his own man and not a clone of Mayor Dave Roberts, as the Zimmer campaign has been trying to tag him. His goal was to show the public that he had a thorough understanding of the problems Hoboken faces, and that he is the candidate best equipped to handle them.

Zimmer, on the other hand, comes into the election as the candidate of reform – if not quite anti-development, then someone more concerned with maintaining a high quality of life in Hoboken.

Each candidate responded to questions with this filter in mind, with Cammarano frequently attempting to show Zimmer as out of touch with the issues, while claiming he is very informed. Zimmer often tailored her answers to show how environmentally friendly she was.

In order to shock candidates into revealing something unscripted about themselves, roundtables often employ offbeat questions. In this case, the roundtable concluded with three such questions: What is your favorite Disney film? Who is your favorite Beatle? What is your favorite city besides Hoboken?

Zimmer had some time to respond to the Disney question because Cammarano answered first, but even then, she struggled to remember the name of a film that would help bolster her environmental credentials.

This is called “staying on message,” which means a candidate has to present a face that he or she wants the public to see.

But when asked which of the Beatles she liked best, Zimmer could not respond. Perhaps she honestly knew nothing about any of the Beatles or could care less. But it is also possible that she could not figure out which of the Fab Four fit the profile she wanted the public to see and so, like Robbie the Robot from the 1960s TV show “Lost in Space,” she seemed to short circuit.

While apparently insignificant in itself, the Beatle issue raises the question as to how Zimmer will deal with a situation in office that does not fit into preconceived notions.

In reality, any of the four Beatles would have served her purposes, since the group has long been credited with beginning the cultural revolution out of which the modern environmental and other social movements were born.

Anna Quindlen, arguably Hoboken’s most famous writer, once described herself as “a Paul girl,” then later became “a John girl” as she grew older.

Quindlen pointed out that the fans of each Beatle tended to reflect the character of their favorite Beatle. Mystical and spiritual people tend to like George Harrison. Offbeat characters gravitate to Ringo Starr. Mainstream people connect to Paul McCartney. Rebels rally behind John Lennon.

Cammarano – who may actually like John Lennon, like he said – stayed on message by singing the praises of this Beatle, defying the opposition’s contention that he is tied to the mainstream politics of Mayor Roberts.

No conflict

Members of the Zimmer campaign have raised questions about the recent guest appearance of Tim Carroll, the Hoboken Reporter staff writer, on a TV show hosted by Cammarano. Cammarano was filling in for regular host Pat O’Melia.

In what may have been a classic case of “bait and switch,” Carroll – like other reporters in the past – agreed to be a guest on O’Melia’s “Who’s Talking Hudson County,” only to get there and discover O’Melia had called in sick and had Cammarano fill in as host.

Carroll remained for the first portions of the show, but left before Cammarano introduced his council slate.

“For the most part, he [Cammarano] stayed objective,” Carroll said.

Most of the questions were general, eliciting a discussion about how this Hoboken election is unique (no born-and-raised candidates were in contention for the lead spot).

But several Zimmer supporters were screaming “foul” that Cammarano was allowed to ask the questions.

Secaucus up for grabs?

Opponents of Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell are bragging about Elwell losing control, and see the recent UNICO presidential election as a sign of Elwell’s political weakness.

Joe Morano was chosen, and he was backed by mayoral candidate Peter Weiner, against an Elwell candidate. Weiner was past president of UNICO.

Although UNICO is supposed to be non-political, it started a political split several years ago when Michael Gonnelli was named Man of the Year rather than then-Town Administrator Anthony Iacono.

Since then, Elwell and Gonnelli have become bitter opponents, with Gonnelli leading a movement this year to unseat Elwell in the mayor’s race November.

Elwell, of course, has to fend off a Democratic primary challenge by Peter Weiner and his slate of candidates, as well as a full slate of candidates for Democratic Committee.

This series of attacks on Elwell are designed to show him as vulnerable and to discourage the people running his political machine.

Elwell, however, said he doesn’t feel vulnerable, and believes he will defeat Weiner in June and Gonnelli in November.

“We’re campaigning very hard,” he said. “We organized right after the presidential election and held monthly meetings until February. Now we meet weekly.”

While he said he doesn’t feel overly confident, Elwell believes his ticket could actually unseat long time independent John Bueckner in the fall.