NJ-02

South Jersey Republican leaders seem to think that by the time the general election ballots are printed, Cape May City Councilman David Kurkowski won’t be the Democratic candidate for Congress against Frank LoBiondo in the second district.  And LoBiondo, insiders say, seems almost obsessed with the idea that State Sen. Jeff Van Drew will enter the race against him. 

Congressional candidate David Kurkowski (D-Cape May): Campaign photoDemocratic Cape May Councilman David Kurkowski, who's challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Frank LoBiondo in the 2nd Congressional District, is facing the hard reality of the campaign traill.

So far, he estimates, he's spent most 90% of his time fundraising, and expects to make it just past the $100,000 mark by the Federal Election Commission's June 30th deadline.

"It's my first time doing this, and it's quite a learning experience to realize you have to spend so much time fundraising, but it's part of the reality," he said. "If you want this seat, you have to do this job."

Democratic congressional candidate David KurkowskiNational Democrats had pinned their hopes on recruiting state Sen. Jeff Van Drew to take out Republican incumbent Frank LoBiondo in the 2nd Congressional District. When Van Drew declined to run, Democrats settled on Cape May's only Democratic councilman as their candidate.  But the national party opted out of funding his campaign.

Despite the lack of support, Kurkowski insists that he's more than just a warm body.

With little name recognition, few upfront financial resources and a base in one of the less populated areas of New Jersey's geographically largest congressional district, Kurkowski is - for now at least - a long shot.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew says he won’t run for Congress in 2008, making GOP Rep. Frank LoBiondo the clear favorite to win re-election to an eighth term this year, the Vineland Daily Journal is reporting.  Possible Democratic challengers to LoBiondo are former Fairfield Mayor Viola Thomas-Hughes, who won 36% against LoBiondo in 2006, and Bridgeton City Councilwoman Celeste Riley.

Democrats are having a tough time finding someone to challenge Rep. FrankLoBiondo
Although state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis) still hasn’t formally decided whether to challenge Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-Ventnor) in the Second Congressional District, most Democrats assume he’s not going to make a run for it.

And with fewer than three weeks remaining to file a petition, no candidates have put their names forward.

“I’m unaware of anyone that has surfaced, and I’m disappointed about that because I think now is as good a time as any to pose a really credible challenge to making the seat a Democratic seat,” said Atlantic County Democratic insider Damon Tyner, a former candidate for state Assembly.