Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre is expected to enter the race for the Republican nomination for Congress in New Jersey's 12th district. He wants toun against six-term U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell).
Holt, 60, was elected to Congress in 1998 in a 51%-48% upset victory that took advantage of incumbent Michael Pappas' weaknesses. He defied pundits two years later by holding the seat against former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer, winning by just 651 votes. Boosted by some adjustments to his district after the 2000 Census, Holt won 61% against former N.J. Secretary of State DeForest "Buster" Soaries in 2002, 59% against GOP activist Bill Spadea in 2004, 65% against former Helmetta Councilman Joseph Sinagra in 2006, and 62% against Holmdel Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman in 2008.
The 42-year-old Republican served as a Councilman and school board member before becoming Mayor in 2007. He also served as Attorney for the Fair Haven Board of Education and as a municipal prosecutor and public defender in three Monmouth County municipalities. He was an associate in the law offices of Lawrence Bathgate, a former Republican National Committee Finance Chairman.
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
“We will work harder and smarter to protect consumers, to preserve civil rights, to effectively regulate the alcoholic beverage industry, to ensure that the integrity of New Jersey’s casino gaming industry continues, to keep drives, passengers and pedestrians safe on our streets, to assist victims of crimes, and to remember always the importance of juvenile justice on issues affecting the state." -- Attorney General-designate Paula Dow, at her Senate confirmation hearing.
- PolitickerNJ.com, 02/08/10Press releases are submitted by PolitickerNJ users, not by staff. They do not represent the viewpoint of PolitickerNJ.com.
I guess now we know
why Halfacre sold out Lonegan.
Baaaah!
Another lamb to the slaughter
Need More Republican Candidates
Lance Smith LoBiondo must go They betrayed the GOP on the energy tax bill. Let us now look for some real Republicans. Lance Smith and LoBiondo you should be ashamed of yourselves!
Alan Bateman right man for 12th
Half acre should sit this one out. He's just being used by njgop. Alan Bateman has the money, grass roots support and most important strong support from the Conservative pro lifers who would love to take half acre on in primary!
Bateman did a bad job
Bateman should sit this out. He did a bad job, only raising 35k and having a college kid run his campaign. He has over 5k of carry over debt and backed Lonegan in the primary. Nice guy, lousy candidate.
Meanwhile, Halfacre is close to Christie and has been making the rounds out here to raise money and support. Face it, there is a right way and a wrong way, and he has been doing it the right way.
Holt should be afraid, very afraid.
Bateman actually did a good
Bateman actually did a good job with what he had. In a year that heavily favored the dems and Obama he got 36/37% which is between Sinagra's 34 and Spadea's 40. I would argue that he neutralized the Obama surge.
The problem with the 12th is that the republicans in the assembly and senate do not have a base of donors who they can call on to help other candidates. They can barely raise money themselves. I've noticed that the crowds at assembly and senate fundraisers keep getting smaller and smaller. They didn't have the influence to keep Saxton's seat. They did help Lance because he was in the senate with them. Plus, Lance had a good base of donors and grassroots support to start with from all his years in the assembly and senate.
If Christie looses and there is a good chance he might, its over. If he wins, also a good chance, he would need to direct his big donors to help the house candidates throughout the state. I wouldn't hold my breath unless these same people want no-contracts. Christie's already trying to defend himself from these contracts when he was US Attorney. But, that's how the game is played.
The way I see it, in the best of years with $2 million, it will be very difficult to beat Holt. One factor of many is that all those state workers in the district won't vote for an R not to mention the gerrymandering. Last election, Holt got more votes than Obama is some areas. I remember Bill Spadea saying when he ran that it will take 3 tries to beat Holt. He is right. The first to get your name out, the second to cut into his margins (come close and possibly win) and the third to win.
forget it
Holt wins. Halfacre is a pompous egotist, he will not raise as much money as he says he will.