U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman says he is running for re-election. .

U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) says he will run for re-election to an eighth term in 2010, "and for many years more." 

Rothman made his announcement hours after PolitickerNJ.com's The Inside Edge speculated that weak third quarter fundraising numbers could be a sign that the congressman was ready to retire.  Rothman made it clear he's not going anywhere.

"I wonder who gave out the creative writing assignment to suggest that I was retiring from Congress." Rothman wrote PolitickerNJ.com.  After all, I love helping my constituents, bringing an unprecedented amount of federal dollars back to many regions in New Jersey (as our only Democratic Appropriations Committee member); and working with my House colleagues and the Obama White House in matters of our national security and foreign affairs."

"My health and that of my family is good, knock wood, and I'm still able to make my mortgage payments.  And even after the ten Town Hall Meetings on Health Care I did in New Jersey in August--the most, by far of any of my Congressional colleagues--my approval rating in my district hovers between 68-70%," Rothman said.  "But above all else, I am having some of the most satisfying time as a public official ever."

Rothman says he does not obsess about running for the United States Senate. 

"While I did turn 57-years-old this week, let's remember that our longest-serving lion in the Senate, Frank Lautenberg  -- who we wish to serve till he's at least 120 --  didn't get to the Senate till he was 58 years old," Rothman said.  "As for dreams of Senate sugarplums dancing in my head, well, I remain committed to the notion that ‘what is meant to be will be'."

Editor's Note: Rothman is expected to make it clear today that he will run for re-election to an eighth term in 2010.

Is U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) running for re-election in 2010?  The seven-term Bergen County Democrat has raised an anemic $25,212 over the last three months - his worst fundraising quarter in fourteen years - a point that will lead to speculation that he won't seek re-election next year. 

Weak fundraising is typically an indication that an incumbent is going to retire.  Rothman, the only New Jersey Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, is well-positioned to raise money. Indeed, he has been a fairly prolific fundraiser since he went to Congress in 1996. 

At age 57, and not likely the first choice of Democrats if a U.S. Senate seat were to open up, Rothman might be considering other options.  Another Democrat who entered Congress with Rothman in 1996, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), resigned this week to run the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.  Wexler had also mulled U.S. Senate runs in Florida.

Rothman could be looking at an Obama administration appointment, or another challenge in the non-profit arena.  He probably doesn't need the money, although his family real estate investments have likely taken a hit in a bad economy.

Rothman has a safe Democratic district - he won re-election in 2008 with 70% of the vote - and his $1.75 million war chest is more than adequate to carry him through next year.  But Rothman might also be looking at the uncertainties of congressional redistricting after the next census, when New Jersey might face losing a House seat.

State Party Chairman Joe Cryan (center) at last week's LG debate at Monmouth University.

Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan today amplified news about next week's rally with President Barack Obama and a Monday appearance in Middlesex by Vice President Joe Biden by announcing an incoming procession of party leaders for Gov. Jon Corzine, including former President William J. Clinton, United States Congressional members Michael Honda (D-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Caroline Kennedy.

Clinton will attend a rally with state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) next Tuesday afternoon at the Collingswood Ballroom in Collingswood; and a rally with Corzine at Rutgers University in New Brunswick on Tuesday evening.

Honda is scheduled to bond with voters at a Saturday, Oct. 17 Filipino American Heritage Month Rally in Old Bridge, a Chinese Americans’ Moon Festival Rally in Princeton, and a Korean Americans’ Harvest Moon Festival Rally in Engelwood.

As he prepares to travel to New Jersey to campaign for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, President Barack Obama has a 55%-40% approval rating among likely voters in this state, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. That’s about the same as he was two weeks ago (56%-39%), but below his 60% approval in July.

Obama’s approvals are at 86%-10% among Democrats, 52%-43% among independents, and not surprisingly, he’s upside-down among Republicans, 19%-76%.  He’s at 51%-45% among men, and 60%-36% among women.  He’s at 76%-19% in Essex and Hudson counties, 55%-41% in Bergen, Passaic, Union, Middlesex and Mercer counties, 64%-32% in South Jersey, and he’s upside down in northwestern New Jersey (45%-48%) and in the shore counties (44%-52%).

HACKENSACK – Chairman Michael Kasparian as well as Freeholders Julie O’Brien and Vernon Walton expressed their excitement after this afternoon’s announcement by the White House that President Barack Obama would be returning to New Jersey next week to campaign for Governor Jon Corzine and the Bergen County Democratic slate.

President Obama campaigns for Gov. Jon Corzine on July 16 in Holmdel.

President Barack Obama is coming to stump for Governor Corzine in Hackensack next week, according to an advisory from Corzine's campaign.

The event will be held at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University next Wednesday.  Doors open at 3pm.

Obama came to Holmdel on July 16 to stump for Corzine at the PNC Bank Arts Center.  

Corzine's campaign has used images of the Govenor standing next to Obama during that visit on billboards, imploring Obama voters to "keep it going."

President Barack Obama is expected to visit New Jersey on October 21 to campaign for Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election, according to campaign sources.  This is Obama's second visit to New Jersey on Corzine's behalf.  The Corzine campaign has also asked the White House to consider a third visit, just before Election Day.

Vice President Joseph Biden has also made two campaign visits to New Jersey in support of Corzine.

Frank Esposito, a longtime college history professor, is independent Chris Daggett's running mate

NORTH ARLINGTON -- Independent lieutenant governor candidate Frank Esposito says there's an idea out there about him that's just not accurate.

"The illusion that was reflected in one of the questions at the debate - that I'm this kind of ivory tower academic who knows nothing about politics - is a false perception that has deliberately been created," he said.  .

Esposito, 68, is a history professor at Kean University and a former interim president there.  A lifelong New Jerseyan who grew up in Ocean City, Esposito has never run for elected office at any level before, but he worked for two years as an assistant commissioner of education under Gov. Tom Kean - where he met his current running mate, Christopher Daggett -- and later spent two years in the Christie Whitman administration working the Charter School Act of 1995. 

Writing and passing that charter school legislation took bipartisan cooperation, Esposito said, with people like former Senate Education Chair Jack Ewing (R-Peapack-Gladstone) and state Sen. Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken). 

Nevertheless, that inside politics experience has not yet translated to a high public profile.  
A recent Monmouth University poll showed that 93% of likely voters either had not heard of Esposito or did not know enough to form a judgment, but Esposito says people have started to recognize him since Thursday night's televised lieutenant governor debate.

Still, Esposito remains the most obscure of the six gubernatorial and lieutenant governors who are, at least in the eyes of the Election Law Enforcement Commission, considered viable. 

This morning, Esposito stumped at a senior center in North Arlington - a crucial blue collar swing town in the state's biggest swing county.  About 25 seniors listened to him - mostly politely - although some chatted and two women played cards in the back of the room. 

President Barack Obama has a 52%-35% approval rating in New Jersey, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll.  But by a 44%-33% margin, New Jerseyans believe they would be worse off under Obama's health care reform proposal.

Gov. Jon Corzine, who is in a statistical dead heat with Republican Christopher Christie, according to portions of the FDU poll released earlier this week, is increasing his support among Obama supporters.  Corzine gets 72% of those who approve of Obama's job performance, up from 66% last month. 

For Immediate Release:Contact: Daniel Beckelman(201)-446-9889

October 8, 2009

Bloschak Attacks Assault on Union Health Plans

Urban Republican Joins UAW Brothers In Opposing Taxation of Generous Healthcare Packages

Belleville-Lifelong union member and 25-year UAW member Andrew Bloschak, the only choice for working families in the 28th District, blasted proposals in the United States Senate to tax comprehensive healthcare plans at rates of near 40 percent. The so-called final bill advocated by Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), calls for such a tax which will hurt middle-class union workers as much as it hurts CEO’s.