FAIR LAWN – Congressional hopeful Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said Tuesday night he’s confident he can clinch the 9th congressional District, but wouldn’t say whether a last-minute influx of outside expenditures helped him gain an edge.

Boteach’s campaign was the recent recipient of $450,000 in the form of a media buy paid for by Patriot Prosperity, the super PAC run by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Boteach, a Republican who has an uphill battle in his fight to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, declined to comment on whether the expenditure gave his campaign a last-minute boost.

“It goes without saying that all we can do is control our own campaign,” Boteach told PolitickerNJ, explaining super PACs are barred from coordinating with campaigns.

“Whether they did it five years ago or an hour before the election, it has nothing to do with us,” he said. “I can’t comment on what anyone did that was outside of our control.”

Boteach said his campaign is “very confident” they could clinch the seat and unseat Pascrell, saying “you don’t run for Congress unless you believe your message” will be received by voters and in turn, gain their vote.