Dennis Shulman

Dennis Shulman, the blind Rabbi running for Congress in New Jersey’s 5th district, has a drawn a surprise challenger in the Democratic primary: Roger Bacon, who runs a customized ceramic mug business. Bacon, who says he’s a registered Republican, was the Libertarian candidate for Congress against Marge Roukema fourteen years ago.

Another Democrat wants to challenge Republican incumbent E. Scott Garrett in the fifth Congressional district. 

Sort of. 

Roger Bacon, who said that he's actually a registered Republican, has filed to run as a Democrat against Rabbi/psychologist Dennis Shulman and lawyer Camille Abate.  

Bacon, who is running under the slogan “Independent Democrat for Lower Energy Cost,” lives in Phillipsburg and runs a customized ceramic gift mug business called Luvmug.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman endorsed Dennis Shulman for Congress today.

"After meeting with Dennis and hearing about him from people throughout
Northern New Jersey, I am convinced that he will make an excellent Member of ongress, " said Rothman in a statement.

Shulman, a blind rabbi/psychologist, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Camille Abate to take on Republican Scott Garrett in the fifth congressional district, which borders Rothman’s.

Fifth district Democratic congressional candidate Dennis Shulman rolled out some new Bergen County endorsements today, touting them as a sign that the Bergen County Democratic Organization is coalescing behind him. But his primary opponent, Camille Abate, issued a press release listing several Bergen County endorsements as well.

Endorsements of Dennis Shulman’s campaign for Congress by Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Freeholder James Carroll  is a signal that the blind Rabbi/psychologist is headed toward an endorsement by the Bergen County Democratic Organization.  Wagner and Carroll are close to the party leadership and are not likely to go off on their own to endorse a candidate in the fifth district race.  Shulman has raised nearly $200,000 for his challenge to three-term incumbent Scott Garrett.

Congressional candidate Dennis Shulman was endorsed by Assemblywoman Connie WagnerFifth district Democratic congressional candidate Dennis Shulman today announced the support of 38th district Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Bergen County Freeholder James Carroll in his primary bid against Camille Abate.

The Bergen County Democratic Organization will hold a convention on February 28th to choose the candidate who will occupy the county line in the district, the biggest chunk of which is in Bergen County – especially amongst Democratic primary voters.

Shulman has the support of New Milford Mayor Frank DeBari and Alpine Mayor Paul Tomasko, as well as several municipal chairs and former 39thdistrict legislative candidates Joe Ariyan, Esther Fletcher and Carl Manna. Abate recently announced the support of Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale and several local union officials.

Fifth district Democratic congressional candidate Camille Abate announced the endorsement of Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale today.

“A woman of conviction and fight can win this district,” said Speaizle.  “That woman is 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.”

Just a few end-of-the day observations:

What would Frank Hague have thought of a Mayor of Jersey City (who is also the Hudson County Democratic Chairman) who could not deliver most of the key Hudson party leadership and elected officials to his candidate for President?  And could the gullible Brad Abelow be the only one who believes Bob Menendez is no longer involved in Hudson County politics?

An impressive list of finance committee members, led by Lewis Eisenberg, has raised just $100,000 for Anne Evans Estabrook’s bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination; that’s about half what Dennis Shulman, the blind Rabbi/Psychologist, has raised for his fledgling congressional campaign against Scott Garrett.  Luckily for Estabrook, she put $1.6 million of her own money into the race.  Estabrook still won’t say how much she’ll invest to unseat Frank Lautenberg.