Mon Jul 19, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM EDT
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It's been tough going for Jon Runyan recently and he hasn't gotten the most favorable coverage recently. That's why PolitickerNJ has him listed as a loser in their weekly recap of "Winners and Losers:"The only good news for the former offensive lineman is that he's still competing in the 3rd Congressional District, which has Republican roots going back to reconstruction. His handlers keep telling him that U.S. Rep. Jon Adler (D-Cherry Hill) can make every master chessman's move in the manual and still fall short of his goal in a district naturally weighted toward the GOP. That may very likely prove true. But that didn't ameliorate what on one level has been a bad news couple of weeks for Runyan, whose ideas on the economy the Asbury Park Press proclaimed "stunningly naive." Examining the results of an Adler campaign poll this week that has the incumbent improbably up by 17 points, Chris Silliza of the Washington Post wrote nonetheless, "Republicans had high hopes for Runyan, a former Pro Bowl offensive lineman. He has struggled with his fundraising, though, and the race hasn't risen to the level of a top GOP priority despite the competitiveness of the district." It's not that we believe the poll is a rock solid reflection of the contest by any means, but the perception right now is that Runyan as a candidate is struggling to find his stride. When the only good news is that you're still in the race, that's a problem. Perception can easily become reality unless action is taken to correct the problem. Here is the assessment of Brigid Harrison:"Jon Runyan has not raised the kind of money that would bring about the recognition and support of national party leaders," said Brigid Harrison, a political scientist from Montclair State University.
Analysts had "expected his friends in professional football and his business contacts would step up to the plate and give generously, and we have not seen that happen," Harrison said. "When that occurs, the national party has a tendency to set its sights on more viable candidates." The trump card still remains Runyan's ability to write a check to his own efforts, to which half of his money raised has already come from. But if things keep going the way they are and don't change, his money will be the only card left in the deck to play. |
| Jason Springer :: The only good news for Jon Runyan is that he's still competing |
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