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Primaries all over the state for the GOP

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 10:45:00 AM EST

Congressman Leonard Lance doesn't just have to look at the Democrats when he plans his re-election campaign anymore as David Larsen announced he will make a run from the right. It seems like he' going to play the career politician card and off the bat pointed to Lance's vote on Cap and Trade as an issue he will raise. But in what can only be seen in an attempt to cut the legs out of his campaign, the conservative Senator Mike Doherty turned around to Tom Kean Jr. and other GOP elected officialsendorsing Lance:

I do not think Leonard Lance can be beaten in a Republican Primary. Even if David Larsen won, he would be cut out in redistricting in 2012."

Doherty's statement is sure to anger some of the same people that put him in office, but his decision seems to be more about is own political standing and thinking Lance is the safe bet so it's better to keep his powder dry in this one. Larsen will need to raise some seed money to show people he's serious and not just looking to loan his campaign money for the effort. I'm told that Lance won't be the only Republican to get a challenge from the tea party crowd as someone may run against Frank Lobiondo.

Then in the seats held by Democrats, there are a few primary races to run against the Incumbent. There are numerous candidate running in the 3rd district and Justin Murphy could also get support from the tea partiers as he runs again this year. There is also the primary to run against Rush Holt as Mike Halfacre and Scott Sipprelle will face off in a right v. further right battle and there may be more candidates to jump in the race. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and others have expressed interest in challenging to run against Frank Pallone as well. The tea partiers are even saying they may put someone up against Scott Garrett from the right, if that's possible in comments to stories that are being written. The amount of candidate running in GOP primaries can be seen as an indication of the enthusiasm and also anger out there with the public right now, who only want to see 8% of incumbent re-elected right now.

By contrast, the Democrats in New Jersey don't seem to like primaries as much. The only primary challenge I've seen so far is one against John Adler, but his warchest will make that an uphill climb. I know inside political circles they tend to shy away from primaries, because it makes you spend resources you want to conserve for the general election battle and take stands you often don't want to defend. But sometimes primaries can better prepare candidates for the trial by fire that is a general election campaign. Even if the GOP candidates don't win their primary challenges, the incumbents will already be in campaign mode given the voter angst right now. The competitive primaries to challenge Democratic incumbents will season them for the rigors of a race. With the climate and public opinion where it is, it's important that candidates don't wait to start their campaigns and these primaries insure that the GOP won't.

Jason Springer :: Primaries all over the state for the GOP

Tags: primary, primaries, 2010, Scott Garrett, Frank LoBiondo, Leonard Lance, nj-3, NJ-7, NJ7, NJ2, NJ3, NJ-2, John Adler, (All Tags)

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Primaries all over the state for the GOP | 9 comments

Ed Potosnak (4.00 / 1)

Ed Potosnak's name is in the ring as the Dem candidate talking on Leonard Lance in NJ-7.

get to know him a little better:
http://www.edpotosnak.com/

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 16:10:27 PM UTC

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Thanks Jay (0.00 / 0)

I didn't mention him because it wasn't a primary, but yes he has announced he will challenge for the seat.

by: Jason Springer @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 16:26:29 PM UTC

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Challenging Garrett from the right? (0.00 / 0)

Stuff like that is what lets him get off by claiming he's a moderate.

by: Thurman Hart @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 17:39:36 PM UTC

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teabaggers, (0.00 / 0)

which I would have thought he was proudly a part of, shoot their mouths off and quite frankly, I don't know how you can be more to the right of Garrett.

The only conceivable (and thin) attack is on his corporatism but even that is a weak tactic to take.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 18:11:58 PM UTC

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Yeah, I didn't think (0.00 / 0)

we could get any further to the right up here in the 5th. I guess its all those teevee appearances where he pretends to represent the loyal opposition.

At any rate, the other day I read a comment to a Herb Jackson piece on the funding sources for Rothman, Pallone and Garrett.

A commenter tagged as ChiefOritani claimed that Garrett was toast. He said that a Freeholder named Bruce M. Harmonson was going to announce a primary challege with tea party help. He said there would be a whole slate announced with Caliguiri.

I have no idea who these people are or what kind of challenge they represent.

Intrepid investigative reporters - go for it! OTOH, maybe its not worth your time.

by: SmartyJones @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 18:45:37 PM UTC

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that was exactly the comment I saw too (0.00 / 0)

and some people I know are trying to look into it, although nobody I know is in with the teabagger crowd.....

Sadly, with what I am hearing from my end, the BCDO isn't planning (and I don't know if the other county parties are) to put up a challenger to Garrett at all!

So this so called primary challenger may at least sap some money from Garrett.

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 20:05:04 PM UTC

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Draft Carol Hoernlein for U.S. Congress (0.00 / 0)

Nuff said.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 21:35:45 PM UTC

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Well (0.00 / 0)

That district is made up of parts of Warren, Sussex, Passaic, and Bergen Counties.

Passaic County:
Bruce James - Clifton (D)
Pat Lepore - Woodland Park (D)
Deborah Ciambrone - Wayne (R)
Terry Duffy - West Milford (D)
Greyson Hannigan - Paterson (D)
Michael Marrota - Wayne (R)
Edward O'Connell - Wanaque (R)

Warren County:
Richard Gardner
Everett Chamberlain
Angelo Accetturo

Sussex County:
Glen Vetrano (R)
Jeffrey Parrott (R)
Phillip Crab (R)
Harold Wirths (R)
Susan Zellman (R)

Bergen County:
Tomas Padilla (D)
Elizabeth Calabrese (D)
David Ganz (D)
James Carroll (D)
Bernadette McPherson (D)
Rob Hermanson (R)
John Driscoll (R)

So, I would say they could either have a candidate named Bruce or a candidate named Hermanson. But not both, if we are limited to current freeholders. Given that Bruce James is a Democrat, I'd guess they mean Rob Hermanson.

If you google him, you get a comment at PNJ that says he is a tea party type. I wouldn't say that's proof, but it's a start.

by: Thurman Hart @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 23:14:54 PM UTC

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the Democrats should also challgenge GOP incumbents (0.00 / 0)

I'd love to see Chris Smith lose his job come November.

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 20:17:46 PM UTC

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