BELMAR - Although they're upset with his "aye" vote on cap and trade, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Bridgeton) says he welcomes primary opposition, and is encouraged by the organizing efforts of the Tea Party movement.

"I think it's great," says the 16-year veteran of the U.S. House. "A lot of people are energized, and when people are energized, we're all better off."

A day after formally kicking off his re-election bid, LoBiondo joins a barful of fellow politicians hare at the Bar A in Belmar, an event sponsored by Assembly Minority Whip David Rible (R-Wall).

"If the cap and trade vote came up again, I wouldn't support it," adds LoBiondo, who would like to see the country develop a coherent energy policy - without the tax penalties included in the bill he originally supported.

He also stands by his vote against the federal stimulus bill, which he says hasn't produced significant or meaningful jobs in South Jersey, where unemployment is 18%, and vigorously opposes proposed cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard.

LoBiondo believes President Barack Obama undertook health care reform in a divisive way.

"America doesn't want it," he says of the president's proposals.

The biggest Republican brand name in South Jersey right now as representative of a district a third the size of the state, LoBiondo says he considers former professional football star Jon Runyan a formidable challenger to U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) in the 3rd District, and would happily welcome him to the United State Congress.

"By anybody's standard, he's a substantive candidate," LoBiondo says. "You look at two things: name recognition and positive name ID. He's got both. Jon's a good guy. I've met him, but I don't know him well." 

Delighted early with Gov. Chris Christie, the congressman acknowledges that Christie spoke to him on the campaign trail last year about the office of lieutenant governor. LoBiondo won't get specific about the conversations he had with Christie, or acknowledge that Christie asked him outright to be his running mate.

"Chris called me a couple of times, and all I can tell you is I was flattered," LoBiondo says. "My passion is with the federal issues: job security, aviation and armed services and transportation. I don't think you can switch to the state level that easily with the federal focus I have."