Posted on 04/16/2008 4:55:39 PM PDT by Darren McCarty
The campaign of Democratic rabbi and psychologist Dennis Shulman for New Jerseys 5th District is beginning to gain steam, capturing local and national support as well as attention as he seeks to become the first blind member of Congress in generations.
In his bid to unseat three-term Republican Rep. Scott Garrett , Shulman reported more than $300,000 raised through March 31, including donations from Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer s political action committee, Washington state Rep. Brian Baird s campaign committee, and members of the psychology and religious communities. Shulman also invested $52,000 in personal funds into his campaign. He reported $246,000 remaining after expenses.
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Due to Shulmans signs of viability, CQ Politics is changing the rating of the race to Republican Favored from Safe Republican. The rating means that Garrett remains highly favored to retain his seat but does face a credible challenge this year.
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Garrett, who is seeking a fourth term in office, was held to a career general election-low of 11 percent in 2006, but that election season was marked by nationwide anti-Republican sentiment. Garrett fared better than some members of his state delegation such as Republican Rep. Mike Ferguson of the neighboring 7th district who just narrowly escaped defeat and has since announced his decision to retire from Congress.
Democrats in 2006 argued that Garrett was too conservative for his district, but Garrett remained victorious at the polls.
Since entering the race last September, Shulman and Democrats have made that same argument. Shulman has contrasted himself with Garrett, arguing that Garretts strongly conservative views and House voting record are out of step with New Jersey voters and his state delegation.
(Excerpt) Read more at cqpolitics.com ...
Garrett won with 59% in 02, 58% in 04, and 55% in a rough 06 year where his neighboring district (Ferguson) nearly went democrat.
This one should stay ours, but with the ineptness of the NRCC/NRSC leadership, I'm worried about every district to some degree.
Ping
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Cute, gimmicky candidate. Garrett is the best MOC from NJ in years. I expect he should be back up to the % of his first two runs as McCain will handily carry this district.
Garrett isn’t a RINO, he’s a bonafide Conservative. He replaced the embarrassing RINO Marge Roukema. Roukema was happy to have had the moonbat RINO turned rodent that ran against Garrett in ‘02 to beat him, but she didn’t get her wish.
I’ve never been able to figure out how any Jew could be a Democrat, yet the majority of them seem to be.
You’re ignorant. Scott Garrett holds a 100 ACU rating.
Wishful dem thinking. Garrett’s district is solid conservative. I look forward to voting for him again.
Roukema reminded me of another woman NJ RINO.
Whitman... the William Weld/*omney one-woman party-destroyer of the NJ GOP.
At least NJ still sends GOP reps to Congress though.
But a minority of them. We had huge majorities of the legislature and after she was done, that all but evaporated. Her sideshow assclown judicial appointees gave the OK to the Torricelli switcheroo, too. A Democrat Governor couldn’t have improved their fortunes as well as she did, and her little handpuppet DiFrancesco.
NJ 5th District *PING*
Exactly. The putz showed up at the Bergen County re-org meeting early this year, came up to the mic during public comments time. He outlined his platform which consisted of "ridding the district of Scott Garrett." Our town carried this freeholder meeting several times and I wanted to punch the tv. Shulman makes my skin crawl. And I'm sending Scott more $$$ this year, than ever.
If Shulman won, he’d have an excuse for not reading the legislation he votes on.
Scott Garrett is not a RINO. He is a straight down the line conservative.
Yes,Garrett is “Conservative” and he is my Congressman. I will be voting for him again in November.
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