Romney stumps for Myers, fills his coffers

MEDFORD -- Former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney came to this quaint little one traffic light downtown tonight to help its mayor become a Congressman.

In a short press conference just before attending a private, $1,000 per head fundraiser for Chris Myers at a private residence in Southampton, Romney, who recently founded Free & Strong America PAC, touted Myers a kindred spirit – a fellow businessman suited to carry on the legacy of retiring Rep. Jim Saxton, who was also present.

“Chris is a person who has experience in the military sector, the private sector and the public sector,” said Romney, standing in front of a gazebo in a small park. “All three areas have given him the kind of perspective which gives him a unique opportunity to help the people of this district.”

Myers is in a tight race with State Sen. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), who’s running with a huge cash advantage, but in a historically Republican district. Tonight’s fundraiser could help, and Romney said that his PAC is going to max out to Myers’ campaign.

Romney said that Myers, a Navy vet who’s a vice-president at Lockheed Martin, is unique in that he has experience in the public, private and military sectors.

“All three areas have given him the kind of perspective which gives him a unique opportunity to help the people of this district,” he said. “I’ve come here to support Chris Myers in this race because I think the people of America need it.”

And, echoing the theme that we’ve heard from the Myers campaign for months, Romney said that Myers has the necessary know-how to create jobs.

“There are a lot of people who can talk about employment and the economy, but a much smaller number have actually had experience leading in employment and leading in the economy,” he said. “Chris Myers knows how jobs are created and how they’re lost. He knows how jobs are created and how they shrink.”

Myers never endorsed anyone for president, though he did donate $2,300 to Romney in September, 2007 – the maximum amount allowed for the primary.

Myers spent much of his speech attacking against Adler. He contrasted his own experience and business acumen with Adler, who he described as a “Harvard lawyer” whose votes in Trenton since he took office in 1992 have led to poor economic policies, and blamed his “participation in a slush fund” partly for increases in state taxes.

“He has not got the economy going in New Jersey. He’s certainly not got going to get the economy growing in Washington,” said Myers, who, citing Tax Foundation statistics, said New Jersey is the second least business friendly state in the nation and the highest taxed.

Earlier today, Adler released a new campaign commercial that ties Myers’ policies in with President Bush. Myers answered that he can think of five policy differences with the President, and named three of them off the top of his head: the President’s veto of the GI bill additions; his cuts to the State Childrens Health Insurance Program, and how to pay for the reconstruction of Iraq.

Myers, he charged, voted with Governors Corzine and McGreevey 99% of the time (he didn’t mention Codey).

“That’s not independence,” he said.

He also said that his experience as a combat veteran – which has been challenged by at least one liberal blogger who’s also a Navy vet – and as a defense company executive puts him in touch with the needs of this district, which has a disproportionately high number of military bases and veterans.

“Trenton is a nice place, but the last time we had any military expertise in Trenton was when George Washington crossed the Delaware,” he said.

Saxton, playing the role of proud political mentor, said he was proud to pass the baton to his heir apparent, reminiscing about how similar Myers is to the way he was during his first Congressional run in 1984.

“He’s 42 years old. I was 42 years old. He’s got two kids. He thinks about their futures. I’ve got two kids. I thought about their futures. I care a lot about national security. He cares a lot about national security,” said Saxton, who stressed that the economy and national security are intertwined, especially in this district.

Adler Campaign Manager Mark Warren argued that Myers’ frequent claims that he cut taxes in Medford – which were reiterated at tonight’s press conference -- were bogus.

“The only thing surprising about Mayor Myers’ press conference today is that Mitt Romney, a fiscal conservative, endorsed a tax and spend politician: Chris Myers,” he said. “The reality is that Chris Myers has raised taxes almost every single year that he’s held office… People in Medford are going to see that he’s playing a little game where he’s just put off the tax increase until next year.”

Warren argued that Adler, by contrast, has worked to cut taxes on small businesses.