Camille Abate

Paul Stuart Aronsohn, the Rotarian-American who ran for Congress against Scott Garrett in 2006, will endorse Dennis Shulman for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the fifth district. Shulman, a Rabbi and psychologist who has been blind since childhood, has raised nearly $190,000 since entering the race last fall.

Insiders have said that Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero was prepared to endorse Hillary Clinton for president – but not without her coming to  accept the endorsement in person.

If that’s true, Ferriero got his wish with what he says is Clinton’s upcoming visit to Bergen County on January 23rd, although the Clinton campaign said that no date has yet been confirmed. But Ferriero said that his late timing has nothing to do with him appearing at a podium with Clinton, and everything to do with getting voters excited.

“I think it’s important to certainly focus the voters’ attention in New Jersey. I think by timing it only a few weeks before the primary gives her a certain amount of momentum going into the election,” he said. “She’ll be going to various different states and this will probably be the only major event she’ll be in the state for before the primary.”

Dennis ShulmanFor a candidate in a congressional race that most political observers consider a long shot, Dennis Shulman, who hopes to be the Democrats’ chosen candidate to against Republican U.S. Rep. E. Scott Garrett, has raised a significant amount of money.

Although the blind rabbi/psychologist's campaign won’t release fundraising totals until Monday, sources say that Shulman raised approximately $140,000 last quarter, bringing his amount raised so far up to about $190,000. It’s unclear how much of that will be cash on hand.

Shulman would not confirm or deny raising the sum.

"I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the enthusiasm for change here in New Jersey," he said in a statement. "Our campaign is still fresh, but we are committed to bringing this district the kind of sensible leadership that the people are thirsting for."

Running off the line, attorney Camille Abate won 40% in the 2006 Democratic congressional primary
Fifth district Democratic congressional candidate Camille Abate wants to emphasize her support from organized labor.

Last Wednesday, the Passaic County Building & Construction Trades Council sponsored a breakfast in honor of Abate, attended by representatives from several local branches of the United Association of Plumbers, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators, Asbestos Workers, the International Brotherhood of Carpenters, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Laborer’s International Union.

Two Democrats who want to run against Scott Garrett refuse to take sides in an intra-party battleBoth Democrats who want to challenge Scott Garrett for Congress in 2008 come from Bergen County, and neither wants to take sides in the war raging there between state Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero.

Dennis Shulman, a rabbi and psychologist who's blind, officially announced his long shot candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the fifth district congressional seat today. Rather than pick a side in the Democratic war in Bergen, he said that his candidacy may be able to help mend it.

Rabbi Dennis Shulman has entered the race against Rep. Scott GarrettDennis Shulman, a Rabbi and psychologist who has never run for public office before, said today that he would challenge three-term Rep. Scott Garrett next year.

Shulman joins attorney Camille Abate as Democratic candidates seeking the fifth district nomination. Abate won 40% in the 2006 primary against the organization candidate, Paul Stuart Aronsohn.

Running off the line, attorney Camille Abate won 40% in the 2006 Democratic congressional primary

At a breakfast hosted by the Democratic State Committee today, congressional candidate Camille Abate mentioned to Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean that she is running for Congress against Scott Garrett.

“He’s the worst,” said Dean.

But despite Dean’s personal opinion, national Democrats apparently don’t think enough of it to pump many resources into a fight against him. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that they have three targets in 2008, and Garrett isn’t one of them.

Democrat Camille Abate will announce next month that she will enter the race to challenge GOP Rep. Scott Garrett in 2008.  The Glen Rock attorney ran for Congress last year, and won 34% in her primary challenge to the organization candidate, Paul Stuart Aronsohn – despite her late entrance and being significantly outspent.