Dennis Shulman

January 9, 2008 - 4:55pm

Shulman raises nearly $200,000

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

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."

There have been 2 comments posted in response to this story.

January 9, 2008 - 10:39am

PolitickerNJ.com's People to Watch in 2008

By Editor

Frank Lautenberg, who at age 84 will seek a fifth term as a United States Senator from New Jersey. If he wins, he’d become the oldest and longest-serving Senator in state history. But a sudden retirement could turn New Jersey politics upside-down.

Common Sense America Executive Director

Brian Brown and Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein go to battle over a likely vote next year on same sex marriage.

John Adler, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman who is seeking to become the first Democratic Congressman from Jim Saxton’s district since 1994. And watch Frank LoBiondo, if Jeff Van Drew decides he wants to be a Congressman

Kate Whitman

, the smart and talented daughter of former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who is seeking an open congressional seat in the 5th district. Also, Whitman’s primary opponent, Sen. Leonard Lance, and the Democratic nominee, Assemblywoman Linda Stender. And note that in 2007, Whitman lost a convention for Somerset Freeholder, Lance was a PolitickerNJ.com Loser of the Year Runner-Up, and Stender ran the 11th Worst Campaign of the Year.

Charlotte DeFilippo, the veteran Union County Democratic Chair, had her records as Executive Director of the Union County Improvement Authority subpoenaed by the state Attorney General’s office.

Steve Ayscue, who has made George Norcross’ political jets arrive on time for years, has emerged as one of the most powerful political insiders in South Jersey, with considerable responsibility for Democratic wins in State Senate races and beyond.

Matthew Boxer,

who survived a contemptuous confirmation process to become New Jersey’s first State Comptroller, will be held accountable as the guy charged with making a government some view as out of control operate more efficiently.

Troy Singleton

, an aide to Carpenters Union leader Frank Spencer and a close confidante of Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts.

The Group

– the key fundraisers for Hillary Clinton’s New Jersey presidential campaign: John Graham, Alfred De- Cotiis, Michael Kempner, Bill Harla, Rev. Reginald Jackson, and Meryl Frank, have created a structure that will make them sought after by candidates in the future. Bill Layton, the newly elected Burlington County Republican Chairman, will now be held accountable for the success and failure of GO P candidates in Burlington.

Dennis Shulman

, a blind Rabbi/Psychoanalyst, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the fifth district. He wants to challenge Rep. Scott Garrett.

Two veteran New Jersey operatives get a chance to manage in the major leagues:

Brendan Gill, who has worked for Steve Rothman, Bill Pascrell and others, will manage U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s campaign. His possible rival will be Mark Duffy, who has worked for Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce and has run campaigns in Mercer and Monmouth counties, will be Republican Anne Evans Estabrook’s campaign manager.

Two of the state’s leading young Hispanic politicians are

Teresa Ruiz, who became the first Latina to win a seat in the State Senate, and Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos, who could emerge as a mayoral candidate – especially if Cory Booker falters.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President

Charles Wowkanech took some flak from Democrats by supporting Nick Asselta and Phil Haines, and for staying out of the Whelan/McCullough race. Will Democrats punish him, or leave him alone? Read More >

Start the discussion

November 14, 2007 - 6:02pm

Democratic House candidates seek to avoid Ferriero-Weinberg war

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

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.

There has been 1 comment posted in response to this story.

November 14, 2007 - 12:39pm

Rabbi says he'll challenge Garrett

By Editor

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.

There have been 4 comments posted in response to this story.

Who wins the 2008 Democratic primary for Congress in the 5th district?

11%

Dennis Shulman

14%

Who do I see to reclaim the 30 seconds of my life wasted by reading this poll question?

76%

November 5, 2007 - 8:31pm

Cardinale’s attack mailer stirs controversy

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

State Senator Gerald Cardinale’s latest attack on Democratic state Senate candidate Joe Ariyan has drawn sharp rebukes by some Jewish Democrats as well as at least one Republican.

Last week, Cardinale accused Ariyan of having ties to the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), an advocacy group whose former communications director, Hussein Ibish, has made some controversial remarks in the past. Ariyan's law partner and campaign donor, Hani Khoury, served as president of the group’s New Jersey chapter in 2005 and 2006, and is still a member.

Recently, Cardinale sent out a campaign mailer saying that Ariyan has allowed “his firm to defend numerous illegal aliens detained by the federal government after 9-11 for suspected terrorism,” and noted Ariyan’s relationship with Khoury. Of the ADC, it said “This group has instructed its members to right (sic) letters in support of radical and extremist Palestinian attacks against the Jewish people and Israel.”

There have been 13 comments posted in response to this story.

October 5, 2007 - 9:19pm

Can Democrats beat Garrett?

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

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.

There have been 35 comments posted in response to this story.

September 18, 2007 - 5:27pm

New potential Garrett challenger forms exploratory committee

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Dennis Shulman, a blind 57-year-old rabbi and psychologist from Demarest, has formed an exploratory committee to mull a bid for Congress against Republican incumbent Scott Garrett.

There have been 6 comments posted in response to this story.