0 users logged on

Tips: BlueJerseyDotCom (AIM) |

Adler: A lesson in betraying yourself

by: Adam L

Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 02:45:00 PM EDT

While I'm all the way up in Northern New Jersey, I did take somewhat of an ongoing interest in John Adler's race as I thought he was "different" from other New Jersey Democrats in the way he portrayed himself over the past two years. Sure, there are many reasons that can be thought of as to why John Adler lost to Jon Runyan - whether it was the campaign "missteps" or the issue surrounding the recruitment of a third party candidate or a "wave" that he got caught in, but when you look at the results - a 6,000 vote loss - there is one thing that stands out to me; something that is a narrative in and of itself:

If you betray yourself and your values, you will lose in the end.

Adler could and should have easily held this seat. Runyan was a far inferior candidate and didn't run a great campaign at all. He took very few positions, offered little detail or specifics and fumbled badly (pun intended) in debates and in his comments.

Adam L :: Adler: A lesson in betraying yourself

But as we have said here before, this comes down to the simple fact that John Adler the Congressman was a very different person than John Adler the State Senator and Congressional Candidate. John Adler, misreading the time, dedication, money and energy that progressives used to support and elect him immediately tacked to the right. He gained support of Wall Street and received a slew of campaign contributions in return. He was outspoken against some of the very things that he ran on, undermining the Democratic Party, progressives and the President. He tried to win over the so-called mythical "independent voters" by running away from his years' long record.

And what happened, predictably, is that Runyan was able to point to Adler's past and say that he was being opportunistic and pretending to be someone that he is not and has never been. This easily countered the narrative that Adler hoped to create, and resulted in his not gaining the supposed support he needed to overcome the feeling of betrayal that progressives - his base - felt after working so hard to elect him in the first place.

This may not hold true for every candidate who lost last night as there were some very good ones that got caught in the "wave" or were targeted themselves (i.e., Feingold or Grayson). But in Adler's case, this was something that has been out there for many months now, and it is only Adler's fault for losing what was a very winnable race.

Tags: John Adler, NJ3, nj-3, jon runyan, values, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Adler: A lesson in betraying yourself | 10 comments

What does Adler do now? (0.00 / 0)

I'd like to know what Adler plans to do the next two years. Will he run for his old Senate seat next year, or try a comeback in 2012 with Obama on top of the ticket?

And how much money does he have left in his treasury. He sure didn't spend much of it in Ocean County. If he does have a significant amount left how will he spend it? Will he give to other candidates? Or will he finance a political comeback.

I guess we'll know more when the final FEC reports are due.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 20:01:52 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Or... (0.00 / 0)

Will he take a job in the private sector - some law firm or as a lobbyist?

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 20:08:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

interesting (0.00 / 0)

for him to come back in 2012 since he ran against Obama for these past 2 years and still lost.

My guess is private sector, more likely. But that's just a blind guess.

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

by: Adam L @ Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 20:22:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

a 2012 comeback is not likely (0.00 / 0)

With congressional districts expanding as a result of the state losing a district, I believe that it is a near certainty that Adler's hometown of Cherry Hill will be in Rob Andrews' district come 2012. It is probably more likely that he would run against Bob Menendez than Andrews, but neither scenario is very likely.

As much as I would love to see a rebirth of John Adler the progressive, taking on James Beach and the rest of the Norcross machine, I think that there is a better chance that the Democratic establishment is going to clear the field for me to take Chris Christie on in 2013.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 02:00:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Democrats stayed home on Adler (3.00 / 1)

Adler lost because the Democrats did not vote.

The numbers are telling in the Cherry Hill area.

In 2008 over 35,000 people voted and over 23,000 voted for Adler.

In 2010 only 22,000 voted and Adler got 13,200 votes.

Democrats simply stayed home.

by: firstamend07 @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 02:01:03 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

What were the Cherry Hill congressional numbers in 1998? (0.00 / 0)

That was the last time that a Congressman was at the top of the ticket.

How does the turnout dropoff in the 3rd compare with the other districts in the state? My guess is that it is probably similar statewide and less about Adler and more about this being a lower turnout election cycle.

Steve Ayscue would know this. FA07 is not Steve Ayscue.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 02:19:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

why don't you go find the numbers? (0.00 / 0)

instead of waxing on w/ your hypertheticals, why not just go find the numbers and see for yourself?

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 12:38:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

tough to compare 2008 to 2010 (0.00 / 0)

for obvious reasons, but I think this would validate my theory. Why did D's stay home? What did Adler give them in terms of a reason to send him back to DC?

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

by: Adam L @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 02:59:47 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

why did D's stay home in Cherry Hill n/t?? (0.00 / 0)

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 12:37:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

In Lumberton (0.00 / 0)

we broke thru and finally elected a Democrat to the Township Committee for the first time in fifteen years.

How did we win this election?

Well by letting our base know we were proud and true Democrats and our base came out to vote for their candidate.

Maybe just Maybe Adler should have done the same, instead of pissing on his base.

by: srlaser @ Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 03:51:58 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Adler: A lesson in betraying yourself | 10 comments