akuperna, your dismissal of “dead rabbonim” seems insufficently supported: as you yourself show, Dems positions are relatively the same as they were in the 70s, just way further down the slope. Those crazy students of the 70s are now party elders. Also, quoting international positions seem not relevant to local elections in the garden state.
So, it seems that Lakewood Rabbonim disagree w/ R Miller ZTzvKL, in this case at least. Maybe the gashmiyus that is required to support ruchniyus in their community is seen as more important that society-wide considerations that R Miller often advocated. Who knows, if R Miller were in charge of thousands of families requiring state assitance, maybe he would also have disregarded higher considerations.
Practically speaking, if Dems will have a slim majority, and a group of conservative Dems band together, they can lead the party to a more balanced place.