NJ-03

Democrats are almost giddy over the increasingly divisive primary in New Jersey’s third congressional district, where Republicans Christopher Myers and Jack Kelly – each with the support of one major county GOP organization and with virtually the same amount of money – are likely increasing their negatives as they beat up on their opponents.  That’s good news for Democrat John Adler, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, who has no primary opponent and over $1 million in his warchest as he seeks to win a seat the Republicans have held continuously since Thomas Ferrell lost re-election in 1884.

Democratic congressional candidate John AdlerJohn Adler is the richest open seat congressional candidate in the nation, according to a report from Congressional Quarterly.

Adler, a Democrat, has approximately $1 million on hand in his quest for the open seat of retiring Republican Rep. Jim Saxton. Adler is unchallenged in the June 3rd Democratic primary, while three Republicans are enmeshed in a tough primary fight to take him on.

Meanwhile, 7th district Democratic candidate Linda Stender is the fourth richest open seat challenger, with about $845,000 on hand. Stender also faces no opposition in the primary, but there are seven Republicans competing for that party’s nomination, the richest of whom has amassed a little over one-third of Stender’s war chest.

(TOMS RIVER, April 24) – Today Third District Republican candidate for Congress – Freeholder Jack Kelly – announced that his first television is up on the air in the Third Congressional District. Freeholder Kelly issued the following statement in regards to launching the first television ad in this race:

(TOMS RIVER, April 23) – Kelly for Congress campaign manager – Frank Luna – today made the following open inquiry to congressional candidate Chris Myers and the Myers for Congress campaign:

“As of Tuesday, April 22, 2008, no record of Chris Myers’ personal financial disclosure, which is required by law, was publicly available at the U.S. House Office of the Clerk. Where is it?”

(TOMS RIVER, April 21) – Third District Republican candidate for Congress – Freeholder Jack Kelly – today said that Chris Myers has launched his direct mail campaign in a “decidedly less than candid and honorable way,” most notably by misrepresenting his record on government spending and staffing.

Democratic Rep. Steve Rothman is soliciting GOP congressional candidate Christopher Myers for a contribution to his re-election campaign. Noting that Myers said he wrote a $500 personal check to Sen. Frank Lautenberg's re-election campaign because they share similar views on Israel. Rothman says he also has a strong record supporting Israel.

In an announcement that could likely impact races for open House seats in New Jersey’s 3rd and 7th district, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today that they have over $44 million cash-on-hand and no debt – which gives them a substantial financial advantage over Republicans for two seats currently held by Republicans.  The National Republican Congressional Committee has not released their most recent fundraising numbers, but earlier this month they had around $5 million on hand and nearly $2 million in debt.

Expect Christopher Myers’ $500 personal check to Frank Lautenberg’s 2008 re-election campaign to become an issue in the Republican primary for Congress in the third district.  Myers wrote the check last year, before Jim Saxton announced that he was retiring – presumably in his capacity as a Lockheed-Martin Vice President.  But what was Myers thinking? Even last year, he was a Republican elected official (the Deputy Mayor of Medford) and had to know this contribution would be used against him in the future.

(TOMS RIVER, April 14) – In response to learning of a financial contribution that his “Republican” primary opponent, Chris Myers, made to liberal Democrat Senator Frank Lautenberg – Third District Republican candidate for Congress, Freeholder Jack Kelly – offered the following: