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NJ:7 GOP incumbent Leonard Lance only agreed to 2 debates against Ed Potosnak. Here they both are.

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Oct 22, 2010 at 12:28:08 PM EDT

In NJ-7, as Blue Jersey reported earlier, GOP incumbent Leonard Lance agreed to just two debates against Ed Potosnak; one for TV (hosted by News12, taped outside NJ-7) and one in Scotch Plains, Union County, hosted by the League of Women Voters. He would not go head-to-head in his home-county Hunterdon, Somerset, or Middlesex.

We now have both debates available on video, both below.

A few observations: Lance goes - many times - to the dusty GOP tactic of mentioning Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as though she's some kind of demi-witch, just in time for Halloween, with evil intentions that well-meaning Republicans must protect America from. It's quite overdone, and in the News 12 debate, Potosnak finally calls him on it, and reminds him of who he's actually running against and who he's not. The DADT conversation is interesting; Lance voted against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (he rates only 38% Human Rights Campaign's scorecard). On the War question, Potosnak is unequivocal, a very clear position. Lance uses the opportunity to claim bi-partisanship with Obama, and try and trump Potosnak by showing off an incumbent congressman's access to classified briefings. Not too subtle. Also interesting is how assertive, aggressive even, he is toward Lance's record on several issues, particularly on economic issues. More than a few times, particularly in the News12 debate where the candidates are sitting 2 feet apart, Potosnak stared him down. Lance is good on his feet, a consummate speaker, but several times he appeared rattled and angry.

For the rest of this, frankly, I feel too close to this race (it's my District, and I helped bring Democracy for America (DFA) into the race, full disclosure) to be objective. So, Blue Jersey, I'd be interested in what you think. Of both debates.

NJ-7 Debate, sponsored by News 12 New Jersey 10/20/10

The only other debate (just 2 days earlier) is very different, and you can watch it after the jump. So, jump:

Rosi Efthim :: NJ:7 GOP incumbent Leonard Lance only agreed to 2 debates against Ed Potosnak. Here they both are.

NJ-7 Debate, hosted by League of Women Voters, Scotch Plains 10/18/10

Tags: News 12, debate, Ed Potosnak, Leonard Lance, NJ-7, Scotch Plains, DADT, Afghanistan War, Nancy Pelosi, Economy, featured, Democracy for America, DFA, League of Women Voters, video, (All Tags)

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NJ:7 GOP incumbent Leonard Lance only agreed to 2 debates against Ed Potosnak. Here they both are. | 6 comments

Lance-Potosnak Debates (0.00 / 0)

Great analysis of the debates. I had the same reaction. Ed is running a very organized professional campaign. The Courier-News and other papers were too hasty to endorse Lance primarily based on his incumbancy. Ed having worked as a congressional insider as an Einstein Fellow in a Congressman's office is as well qualified and perhaps has more knowledge of how Congress works and where the "levers of power" are. He did not have to deal with the time pressures and distractions facing a sitting first term congressman. The voters need to get to know the candidates and what they stand for not just vote party. If they really study them they will realize that Potosnak is very aware of the issues of prime concern to his constituants and is not beholden to large campaign contributors.
Lance is a good guy but Ed is more likely to be a proactive Congressman in serving our needs.

Ben Auletta, Sr.

by: Brook39 @ Fri Oct 22, 2010 at 17:42:15 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Lance (0.00 / 0)

Lance is a good guy. A nice man, bright, courtly, considerate. All these things are rightly part of his public persona, most of which was formed during his long years in the NJ legislature.

But Lance as a first-term congressman, while still remaining a nice guy personally, has nevertheless dropped much of his state service-era independence, turned hard-right and shown big-league GOP party discipline. Terribly disappointing. And frankly, his vote against repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell ... almost shocking.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Oct 22, 2010 at 17:50:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

disappointing is not the word (0.00 / 0)

For Lance... I got a wake up call some time ago with a taxpayer funded piece of mail with a picture of him, Michelle Bachmann and a sneering Scott Garrett!

UGH!

Ed ran rings around Lance in the debate... Now it's time for us to run and get out the vote for Ed!

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

by: Babs NJSD @ Fri Oct 22, 2010 at 18:35:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

LWV DEBATE to Air On Piscataway TV Sunday Oct 31 2:30 pm (0.00 / 0)

New Jersey Seventh Congressional District Debate Featuring Challenger Ed Potosnak (D) And Congressman Leonard Lance (R) to air on Piscataway Community Television.

Democrat Ed Potosnak debated his opponent, First-term Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th), Monday morning, October 18, 2010 in a live televised debate broadcast from the basement of the Scotch Plains municipal building, that doubles as the home of Scotch Plains Television, in preparation for the Tuesday, November 2, General Election. The New Jersey Seventh Congressional District debate hosted and moderated by the League of Women Voters was taped by students of the Scotch Plains Fanwood High School Audio-Visual Club. A rebroadcast of the debate will air on Piscataway Community Television on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 2:30 PM. The channel can be viewed on Cablevision of Raritan Valley 15 and Verizon Fios 40 (some parts of Fios may carry it on a different channel)

PISCATAWAY COMMUNITY TELEVISION, a local public access station, can be viewed throughout district 7. Channel 15 (Cablevision of Raritan Valley) serves Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Dunellen, Green Brook, Manville, Middlesex, Piscataway, Raritan, South Bound Brook, NJ and Channel 40 (Verizon Fios) serves Berkeley Heights, Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Fanwood, Franklin, Manville, Mountainside, New Providence, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Somerville, South Bound Brook, South Brunswick, Summit and Warren, NJ. Piscataway TV is always being added to towns on the Fios lineup so check to see if you may receive it. The Debate can also be viewed online anytime at www.ed4nj.com

by: Brook39 @ Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 11:34:46 AM UTC

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LWV DEBATE to Air On Piscataway TV Sunday Oct 31 2:30 pm (0.00 / 0)

New Jersey Seventh Congressional District Debate Featuring Challenger Ed Potosnak (D) And Congressman Leonard Lance (R) to air on Piscataway Community Television.

by: Brook39 @ Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 11:34:49 AM UTC

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debate in fords/Edsion, Nj on the web for viewing (0.00 / 0)

Camera: Ben Auletta, Jr.
WHERE / WHEN: Royal Albert Palace, 1050 King Georges Post Road, Fords (Edison), NJ 10-26-10
WHO: Ed Potosnak (D) NJ-7
WHAT:Ed Potosnak, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's Seventh District, spoke on the issues and mingled with voters, while Mr. Lance was a no-show.
Both Lance and Potosnak were invited to attend the debate.

This debate and the other two debates can be viewed by going to: http://www.edpotosnak.com/deba...

by: Brook39 @ Sat Oct 30, 2010 at 11:38:38 AM UTC

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NJ:7 GOP incumbent Leonard Lance only agreed to 2 debates against Ed Potosnak. Here they both are. | 6 comments