1 user logged on

Tips: BlueJerseyDotCom (AIM) |

Is Carl Lewis Still Running?

by: deciminyan

Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 01:28:31 PM EST

Conventional wisdom says that one way to defeat Congressman Jon Runyan this year is to fight fire with fire. That is, instead of the Democrats standing up a run-of-the-mill politician against Runyan, they should nominate a celebrity. The thinking is that there's really no one in the Burlington/Ocean county political establishment that has the name recognition, fundraising ability, and gravitas to compete with the ex-NFL "bad boy" and his bottomless source of campaign funds from the corporatists.

There is a celebrity athlete in Runyan's congressional district - one who has dabbled in politics before., and can be orders of magnitude better than Runyan. Olympian Carl Lewis ran for state senate last year, only to be denied the opportunity to serve because a judge ruled that the long-time New Jerseyan did not strictly fit the residency requirements.

More below the photo...

Photo of Lewis' announcement of his senate run - April, 2011

(Left to right: Orange, NJ Mayor Eldrige Hawkins, Carl Lewis, Christopher Walker - Executive Director of the Carl Lewis Foundation, New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney)

deciminyan :: Is Carl Lewis Still Running?

After the judge's ruling this past September, Lewis was asked about a congressional run at a press conference. At that time, he said "there is zero chance I'm running for Congress." Yet, there are some folks, at least in the blogosphere, who see Lewis as the best hope for replacing Runyan with a real, thinking congressman. While both Lewis and Runyan are former athletes, Lewis has had extensive experience in coaching, as a UN goodwill ambassador, and in running a foundation. No doubt, the "Draft Carl Lewis" chant will be heard over the next several months.

To see if Lewis' outlook has been altered, I asked his spokesman whether a groundswell of support for a congressional run would change the Olympian's mind. He told me that Lewis has a full plate in 2012 with his foundation and other projects and that "Carl has no intention of running for Congress." But when asked about the Draft Carl Lewis movement, the only comment from the spokesman was "never say never." He did emphasize that the abortive senate run has not shied Lewis away from politics and kept the door open for a future run, saying "2013 is close." Whether that means a gubernatorial run in the footsteps of other athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, or another try at the Senate, he wouldn't say.

Carl Lewis has an ego commensurate with his nine Olympic gold medals, so he would fit in with the political establishment. Lewis "gets it." He supports the Occupy movement, women's rights, and other Democratic principles. While there are several very capable Democrats in NJ-3 who would run rings around Jon Runyan, the electoral deck is stacked toward the incumbent. It would be wonderful if Lewis changes his mind and gives Runyan a real fight. Regardless, I'm sure we haven't heard the last from Carl Lewis. And I'm glad to say that.

Tags: United Nations, Olympics, Occupy Wall street, Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Walker, Eldridge Hawkins, Stephen Sweeney, republicans, Democrats, nj-3, jon runyan, Carl Lewis, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Is Carl Lewis Still Running? | 8 comments

Carl Lewis vs. Jon Runyan (0.00 / 0)

Being from Brick, Chris Smith has held that position in our District. But with Runyan, tea party favorite, this would be a great case to drop the Republican from our district. Well look, our mayor got a rude awakening when Brick residents booted his cabinet last November. So anything is possible. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

by: sandinbrick @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 19:10:39 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

jon runyan might deserve a chance (0.00 / 0)

to grow on the job. in the 2nd district it's a whole other story. a lead weight named frank lobiondo has been here forever and only gotten worse over time...TRUST ME. and, we're off everybody's radar screens in southern most new jersey. SEND HELP

was on the harry hurley radio show about an hour ago spreading my name around. always goes very well. lobi and harry are good friend btw.

"the black sheep can wear the golden fleece and hold a winning hand" Tim Hardin

by: gary stein @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 19:24:30 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

You must be kidding! (4.00 / 1)

Runyan has had his chance. He's shown that he's just as bad as Michele Bachmann. Runyan is a reliable vote for the Tea Party/corporatists and needs to be replaced. Let's not cede this seat to the extremists.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org

by: deciminyan @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 20:00:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

no problem (0.00 / 0)

i don't like some of runyan's votes either. just saying, there's an ethically challenged 9 term incumbent in my district and he's got to go. i was his miserable opponent two years ago. i filed an ethics complaint against him and it got buried, even though he clearly broke their self-described rules (or however you'd phrase that). it's a story and a half what goes on down here and maybe they'll make a movie about it one day!

"the black sheep can wear the golden fleece and hold a winning hand" Tim Hardin

by: gary stein @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 20:09:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Out with the Norquist pledge signers (0.00 / 0)

Anybody pledging allegiance to Grover Norquist needs to go starting with Runyan. Follow that up by getting rid of the other obstructionist pledge signers like Scott Garrett, Frank LoBiondo and the other idiot corporatists.
Then somebody please tell me what Rob Andrews was thinking when he signed it too?

by: kfoster @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 21:34:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

A Draft Lewis movement may not work (4.00 / 2)

but it may encourage some other worthy Democratic candidate(s) to come out of the woodwork. I would hate to see this district surrendered to Runyan for the next ten years.

Blog: Pick's Place

by: jeffpickens @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 19:38:59 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Runyan no teabagger (4.00 / 1)

If Runyan is a teabagger, so is every elected Republican in Ocean County including boss George Gilmore, State Senator Chris Connors, our Assemblymen and Freeloaders, etc. Teabaggers are extremist ideologues who put their Randian philosophy of economic Darwinism ahead of any regard for statesmanship or pragmatic governance. If Runyan ever had an ideological thought in his head it would die of loneliness. When he first heard of tea parties he probably thought they were ladie's garden clubs. Runyan is a creature of the political bosses in Burlco and Ocean, and will do whatever they tell him to do. Ironically, it was the attempt by Democrats to "plant" an independent tea party candidate, Peter DeStefano, which was exposed by the Courier-Post which likely cost Adler the election by energizing the teabaggers to vote for Runyan rather than stay home. Also, Runyan was opposed by a tea party candidate, Justin Murphy, who got 40% of the vote without having any money to spend. Murphy isn't running this year, but Runyan is definitely vulnerable.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Tue Jan 03, 2012 at 23:58:29 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

puppet named Runyan (0.00 / 0)

I totally agree. Runyan is a moron puppet for the people who put him there. I trolled enough meetings when they were courting him to know that he doesn't have a clue what to do without a have up his ass.

by: kfoster @ Wed Jan 04, 2012 at 03:46:58 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Is Carl Lewis Still Running? | 8 comments