Lance will skip GOP convention to raise money

GREEN BROOK -- The idea has dogged State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) since he started his congressional campaign in the 7th District: that he's well respected as a policy wonk, but doesn't have the political wherewithal to run a federal race in a fiercely competitive district.

Lance's critics found evidence of that claim when they saw that he had only $80,000 cash on hand at the end of the last reporting period to rival Linda Stender's (D-Fanwood) $1.2 million.

Today, Lance acknowledged that some of his supporters were taken aback by the anemic war chest, but noted that he's raised a lot of money since the June 30th filing deadline - which occurred just 26 days after Lance blew his war chest against a well-funded primary campaign by Kate Whitman and five other candidates.

Lance said that he doesn't know how much he's raised since then, but that he's certain it's "more than $100,000."  He also has six fundraisers scheduled over the coming months, and will stay home to campaign and raise money during the Republican National Convention in September.

Moreover, Lance said, he didn't raise money during the latter part of June.  As the ranking Republican member of the Senate Budget Committee, he was enmeshed in budget negotiations.

"I take my responsibilities in the Senate very seriously," he said.

The same fears about his fundraising prowess, Lance noted, were raised in the primary campaign, which he wound up winning handily.

"We were able to raise enough money in the primary and we believe we will in the general election. I think that was an issue in the primary, and we overcame that," he said as he stood in front of his soon-to-be campaign office in Green Brook.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has not committed any funds for ad buys in the 7th District.

"Not yet, although we've been discussing the situation," said Lance.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), on the other hand, has already revealed plans to spent $1.8 million on television ads in the district, and has already reported spending $13,000 on two mailers there.

Lance made the comments to PolitickerNJ just before holding a press conference to criticize Stender, who sits on the Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee, for authoring a bill  that would push to expand Off Track Betting branches, including into parts of Somerset County.

Green Brook officials - including its two Democratic council members - voted unanimously against a Sports and Exposition Authority proposal to use a former car dealership site for an off-track Betting parlor.

"An off-track betting facility anywhere in Somerset County would mean thousands of out-of-town gamblers, more traffic, more parking problems and more strain on our municipal services," said Lance.  "We do not need Linda Stender to support horse betting parlors; we need Linda Stender to support lower taxes, less wasteful spending and Somerset County's quality of life."

Lance declined to hit Stender on campaign donations by horse racing interests.

Stender's campaign responded that the bill Lance was citing - A-979 - did not address placing off-track betting facilities in Somerset County.

"That being said, Linda Stender supports mechanisms to bring new jobs and revenue to Somerset County and all of New Jersey. Linda is committed to stimulating our economy through initiatives such as off-track wagering, as are Senator Lance's Republican colleagues Assemblyman Peter Biondi, Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow, and Assemblyman Michael Doherty," said Stender Campaign Manager Abby Curran.

Curran added that the system was designed to let local leaders decide whether or not they want a facility in their towns - which worked in the case of Green Brook.

"As a former Mayor, Linda Stender understands the importance of keeping local leaders in charge of their communities," she said.

Standing with Lance were several local Republican officials, including Green Brook Mayor Ken Hermann, Bound Brook Mayor Carey Pilato and North Plainfield Councilwoman Barbara Habeeb.  Also present was Robert Gatto, a Republican running for mayor of North Plainfield who challenged Stender for her Assembly seat last year.

Gatto related his own campaign's experience to Lance's.   Despite having virtually no money, he came closer to Stender and her running mate, Assemblyman Jerry Green, than anyone expected.  He had 10,579 votes to Stender's 14,054 and Green's 13,765 - a strong showing for a safe Democratic district.

"I ran a grass roots campaign against Linda Stender in the Assembly, and I came very close to beating her on message alone.  It had nothing to do with funds," said Gatto.  "I think the Senator's reputation, his voting record, and just his persona will be able to dominate the political landscape."