Musical Candidates for the GOP in the 1st District

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 11:30:00 AM EDT

They're swapping candidates in what Republicans view as one of their best hopes for a pickup, the 1st Legislative District:

Frank Conrad has left the First District Assembly race, and John McCann - an Ocean City real estate agent and politician - is poised to replace him alongside Mike Donohue on the Republican ticket, Donohue said Sunday.
Party leaders in the area learned of Conrad's decision at week's end. The Upper Township committeeman cited a need to concentrate on pulling his small highway-safety-equipment business through the recession.

But over at Politicker, Wally speculates it may be more of a campaign team fail:

Conrad is citing business and person reasons, but sources strongly suggest that a key reason for ending his Assembly bid is that he could not get along with his running mate, Mike Donahue, or his campaign manager, Peg Emberger.

Whatever the reason, this latest swap in the first district, gets added to the fact that the GOP state party has said they won't support the Republican candidates who won the primary in the 3rd and the recruitment fiasco in the 14th District to pick candidates. You wonder how much of a role Jay Webber will play and what will change under his leadership of the party going forward.

Jason Springer :: Musical Candidates for the GOP in the 1st District

Tags: John McCann, Frank Congrad, Matt Milan, Nelson Albano, LD1, Atlantic County GOP, (All Tags)

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Musical Candidates for the GOP in the 1st District | 2 comments

They deny (0.00 / 0)

the Inside Edge Report:

Dear Wally Edge:
I wish to formally inform you of the complete inaccuracy of your current piece related to my withdrawal from the Assembly race. It is unfortunate that you decided to run with unattributed comments and create a false impression. Let me say this so it is clear to you, at no time was there ever any problem between me and Mike Donohue or Peg Emberger. Mike and I were a winning team and we have been and will remain friends and political allies. The fact that people operating on behalf of our opposition are taking shots at Peg and Mike just proves that these are people who know how to win. I intend to work with Mike and Peg to help the Donohue-McCann ticket win this election. Again, it can't be said enough. Your story is wrong and completely inaccurate. Mike and Peg and I were a winning team and now John and Mike and Peg will be the winning team with me helping in any way I can.
Thank you.
Frank E. Conrad
The Inside Edge stands by our original report.

by: Jason Springer @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 02:19:17 AM UTC

Good news for Milam and Albano (0.00 / 0)

With the 3rd District Republicans in total rebellion more South Jersey money can go into the 1st District. The two Democrats will have a tough race but this Republican candidate mess will certainly help both of them.

It will now take the Republicans weeks to get reorganized in a campaign that saw them pretty unorganized to begin with in the 1st.

Corzine will be a very difficult sell in this District but both Albano and Milam have shown enough independence, along with VanDrew to take advantage of an unorganized Republican party and keep their seats.

by: firstamend07 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 09:26:39 AM UTC