Posted on 04/13/2006 11:09:12 AM PDT by Coleus
For the last five months, State Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr., the son of a revered former governor, has trained all of his political fire at the feisty Democratic power broker he wants to unseat, United States Senator Robert Menendez.
But now, in a twist, it appears that Mr. Kean will have to contend first with a political distraction that he worked for more than a year to avoid: a challenger in the Republican primary.
The potential challenger's name is John P. Ginty, and he is a 41-year-old financial data analyst and former president of the Ridgewood Republican Club who proudly calls himself an "ideologue" and a social conservative. On Monday, the filing deadline for the June 6 primary, Mr. Ginty filed petitions with 1,742 signatures. To qualify for a spot on the ballot, 1,000 valid signatures are needed.
Mr. Ginty says that Mr. Kean has been a major disappointment, displaying moderate or muddled views on issues like abortion and stem cell research. He also accuses Mr. Kean of failing to "articulate some understandable program for cutting the size of government" at the federal level, and of not spelling out his views on foreign and defense policy.
So far, Mr. Ginty has elicited praise from conservatives like Steven Lonegan, who ran for governor last year, and Marie Tasy, the executive director of New Jersey Right to Life. And in a sign that his candidacy merits more than a political asterisk, he garnered a surprisingly robust 21 percent of the vote at the recent Middlesex County Republican Convention, despite lacking money, organization or a famous name.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Ginty, describing Mr. Kean, said, "It's pretty apparent that he does not believe in a lot of the principles and solutions that a lot of members of the conservative movement
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
you may also want to check out Vince Micco for Congress.
Iraq veteran who supports war running for Congress (Republican)
Kean is far from ideal. But he's better than Martinez, so I will support him.
Go Ginty!! Bump
I'm only staying in NJ just to vote against Kean
do you mean Menendez?
The primaries are the crucible. If this newcomer emerges from the primary victorious then he is the party nominee and all must support him. If his campaign fails and his supporters fail to do what is necessary to win, then that failure is theirs and the party nominee will be Kean.
Always always always vote for the rightward most candidate who is viable. Whoever wins the GOP primary will constitute that candidate vs the Democrat.
Whoever you are supporting, work for him. Whoever is the nominee, call and volunteer your time and money to him. This would be a powerful GOP seat pickup.
*BUMP for Ginty*
Kean is far from ideal. But he's better than Martinez, so I will support him.
Understandable, but who will you support in the GOP Primary? Kean or Ginty? Hopefully it will not come down to Martinez vs. Kean but Martinez vs. Ginty.
I'll vote Ginty in the primary, but will hold my nose for Kean in the general.
Has the Senator from Florida moved to New Jersey ? ;-)
Menendez, Martinez...
I'm going to vote against Kean no matter what. I'd vote for Menendez over Kean. The way the state GOP stomped on Schundler....
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