In an election where the Democratic Party is expected to make large gains, no young candidate has generated more buzz than Josh Zeitz, the Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 4th District. Polling data putting his incumbent opponent well below the 50% mark just weeks before election day, Josh's already record breaking fundraising, and an influx of new registrants making Democratic voters the majority in this district may very well be the perfect recipe for change from years of ineffective Republican rule in this part of the state.
Visuals: Opening image of New York Stock Exchange floor, followed dark screen with words "Fire Scott Garrett" followed by Garrett's face alongside the Capitol building and then Countrywide mortgage office as phrases spoken by narrator appear on screen. Ends with image of Shulman.
Analysis: Shulman, who has aired only negative ads this fall, continues his head-on attack of Garrett. If voters believe the markets-know-best attitude caused the current crisis, the ad - despite exaggerations - could do some damage because Garrett has generally been a free-market champion.
Here is the ad. It's a great example of linking the Congressman and his actions to the current situation.
Lance admitted he opposed Stender's bill and believed women should be forced instead to rely on pharmacist referrals for their prescriptions if they were not able to obtain their birth control. Stender denounced this as an undue burden for women, stating, "Women should not have to drive around just to get their basic prescriptions filled. Leonard Lance is truly out of touch if he believes women should be forced to drive from pharmacy to pharmacy looking for someone to give them their medication."
I wasn't aware this is such a huge issue in the 7th. I might mention that whether a woman is able to get birth control becomes less of a factor if she can't afford the birth control because she already makes less at the job she hopes she doesn't lose because she won't be able to find another one in the bad economy. They mention driving from pharmacy to pharmacy, but don't make the connection to the burden of the cost of gas. Lance has tried to focus on the Property Tax grant program as well, not making any mention of the economy.
Update: I was running out the door. Here is some more.
The Cape May County League of Women Voters and 98.7 FM WCZT, The Coast radio station, are joining forces this year to sponsor the only Candidates Forum in the county where all six candidates running for the 2nd Congressional District will be present.
All of the candidates went after Lobiondo's record at the last debate to which he responded if you have any question to call his office, so I wouldn't expect anything different once again. Kurkowski also has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow at 2pm to discuss Lobiondo's broken contract with America.
My hope at this point is that any recovery plan focuses first and foremost on the root cause that haunts Main Street. All attempts should be made to see that honest, hardworking people can somehow remain in their homes and avoid foreclosure. This is essential to stop the slide in the market overall. Stimulating the economy comes next. Many options are on the table, including efforts to create jobs through a conversion to a green economy.
