March 27, 2008 - 1:40pm
Underdog Roughneen marches into Middlesex GOP convention
By Max PizarroWATCHUNG - In a crowded field of Republican candidates in the 7th Congressional District, long-shot Thomas Roughneen highlights his background as an Iraq War veteran and son of Irish immigrants.
Honor and sacrifice are words he uses often.
Although he is an admirer of President George W. Bush, the 38-year-old former assistant prosecutor from Watchung does not believe the administration put Americans on the proper war footing for a protracted conflict in the Middle East.
A major in the Army, Roughneen (pronounced ROCK-neen) laments the lack of attention and respect received by returning war veterans and a general disconnect between American life and the ongoing mission in Iraq.
His two younger twin brothers are Black Hawk helicopter pilots who are going back to the front lines in a war Roughneen maintains must be waged and won.
A native of Essex County, Roughneen, who until last year was a Democrat, said he believes his former party allowed its disrespect of Bush to turn the war into a political football. The candidate presents himself as the Republican Party’s best chance to upend what he foresees will be an anti-war candidacy by Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender.
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Democrat?
Isn't he buddy buddy with Cryan and company?
A primary he could win
Why not run for Senate? The field is less crowded.
Slim
Slim, He can't run for US Senate, He lives in NJ and not a billionaire so Chairman Wilson doesn't like that.
Middlesex GOP
The order of finish will be Lance, Whitman, Marks and then Roughneen. The others won't make on the radar screen. The fix is already in for Middlesex. Whitman is spreading the do re mi, and the "leadership" (if you want to call them that) are pressuring delegates for Lance. An extraordinarily pathetic organization in Middlesex.