January 25, 2008 - 6:00pm
Key House Democrat pushes Stender, Adler
By Matt Friedman
Tags: Mike Ferguson, Linda Stender, John Adler, Jim Saxton, 7th District, Congress, Democratic, Steny Hoyer, 3rd district, pickup, congressional election, open seat
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) was in New Jersey today to hype the upcoming congressional campaigns of Linda Stender and John Adler, emphasizing the need to bring the two in to boost the Democrats’ relatively narrow majority in the House.
“We’ve worked very hard over the last number of years since the republicans took over the house to take back the house – not just for political purposes. Obviously all of us want to be in the majority, but what we really want to do is change the direction that the Republican congress and the Republican president have taken this country,” Hoyer told PolitickerNJ.com. “If we lose 15 people we lose the proposition.”
During Stender’s 2006 congressional campaign, in which she raised about $2 million without a tremendous amount of support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and managed to come within one point of unseating Rep. Mike Ferugson, Hoyer came up to New Jersey to campaign for Stender several times.
“I’m absolutely convinced she can win. She had an excellent race last year against an incumbent and worked hard,” said Hoyer.
Although considered a formidable congressional candidate, Stender’s margin of victory in her uncompetitive 2007 Assembly race was seen as some political observers as a bad omen for her congressional candidacy.
Stender said that the margin of victory was virtually the same as her last election in an off, low-turnout year with only the legislature at the top of the ticket.
“I think the Republicans keep wanting to talk about this and I’m happy to talk about how I keep winning races all of the time.”
Hoyer said that he looked at the numbers and was not perturbed – that the local Assembly race was not likely to bear resemblance to the congressional race.
“I don’t think it’s particularly relevant to this race,” he said. “I won with 53% of the vote the first time I was elected in this new district. I won with 83% of the vote last time… I don’t put much stock in that race – it was not a big premier race, I don’t think , even in this state.”
Hoyer said that he’s come to know Stender over the last few years, but has only met Adler once.
“But I want to get to know him, and I know his service in the Senate. His reputation is outstanding.”
Hoyer’s next stop was the Marlton home of a single mother of two to discuss the economic struggles of the middle class. He and Adler discussed mostly economic issues.
There, according to a press release, Hoyer praised Adler.
“John Adler has a clear vision to change the direction of the country and fight for hardworking families in South Jersey, I am proud to support his candidacy for Congress," he said.
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Hoyer
Hoyer was in Marlton today for a press conference for Adler at a local resident's home. His presence here is more than welcome; while Hoyer, Van Hollen and several prominent Democrats have already been to N.J. in support of Adler and Stender, no major national Republicans have come to support their congressional candidates, by my count.
Key House Democrat????
didn't realize there was one -- never heard of this guy before today.
Re: Hoyer
No major national Republicans have come yet because there are still primaries to be had, moron.
P.S. Mind if I extend Jersey Joe's steak dinner challenge to Steny Hoyer? Never heard of him.
Re: Bigger Picture
Though "Stalin" may think everything is hunky-dorry in GOP land, the Democrats, by any objective account, have been outpositioning the Republicans in the 3rd district, from Adler raising over $600k compared to less than half for Kelly or Myers, to prominent figures such as Hoyer pushing the race in the media (media wars thus far certainly favor Adler), to candidate performances thus far (Myers controversial hires, his avoidance of the Iraq War vote question in one of his first campaign appearances; Kelly's reputation for intolerance with Lt. Hester).
We're not exactly talking about a riveting performance thus far from the GOP candidates in the 3rd.
Generally
Generally, I do not like to respond to posts here. Many are just not worth the time, but I do have to respond to the posts made by MartinOne. I would like to know what inside knowledge of the Republican Party you have? Your claims that Republican Leaders are not involved in the campaign is not only erroneous, it is could not be farther from the truth. While I know who Steny Hoyer is, I can guarantee that the vast majority of the residents of the Third District do not. The endorsement of Chris Myers by Rep. Jim Saxton will be much more important than a visit by Rep. Hoyer. I can remember 2000 when a sitting President who was extremely popular paid a visit to NJ on behalf of Susan Bass Levin. She also outraised Saxton that election cycle. In the end, the best person won. As someone who is working with Chris Myers, I know for a fact that he has/is meeting with the key players in Washington, DC. At an event in DC, several Members of Congress including the Minority Leader attended an event I helped set up. And to claim that this race is essentially over, which you have done, eight months out is short sighted. You seem to be a pretty intelligent individual. But to claim things that are fictional does nothing for you on this board except invite ridicule. If that is your intention, feel free to keep it up.
Martin: No stranger to delusions
One need only view any or all of his posts circa Fall 2007. I doubt he will ever bother to take his blinders off.
9.5 months out...
Regarding DC Repub's comments, I would agree that this race is far from over. I'm actually looking forward to a major national race finally in the state -- ad buys in the Philadelphia market, the massive GOTV efforts, the national figures who have come in and will continue to visit on behalf of Adler and Kelly/Myers. I expect nothing less than a knock-down, drag-out fight.
Two points of contention concerning your analysis, though. Kelly/Myers don't carry the reputation that Saxton does, so I don't think the Bass Levin/Adler comparison is apt in the least, respectfully. Strangely enough, the majority of BurlCo voters in 2006 split the ticket between Menendez and Saxton -- who do you think they'll be voting for in 2008, a presidential year in the state? Further, on the ground here in N.J., Adler is getting the majority of the press through telegraphed conferences like this one with Hoyer, despite Hoyer's lack of name recognition; and his fundraising figures thus far have been absolutely staggering in their impressiveness.
To Chet/ASharperJames. I would say to give my best to Propp, Griffin, McCullough and Asselta.
MartinOne
I will try not to get into a tit-for-tat with you. Over the past several years, I have seen how you and others on this board go at one another and to be honest I have a lot more to do in life than continue to respond to someone on this board. But, I need to respond to your latest comment. While I will agree with you that there are difference between 2000 and 2008, I believe it is justifiable to equate the two. As someone who worked on that campaign and worked for the sitting Congressman at the time, I see similarities in Chris Myers to Jim Saxton. While the power of incumbency is not the same, both have/had the power to raise money, had practical business experience, and were generally seen as good leaders within the community. Both held elective offices. As for Senator Adler, I believe that he does not have the advantages Susan Bass Levin had. The district was altered to minimize the ability of a Camden County Democrat to pose a challenge with a strong base. One town remains in the Third District that Senator Adler represents. And as Susan Bass Levin found out, it is no guarantee that you will win there overwhelmingly. By this time 2000, Mayor Levin had a sitting President and Vice President at rallies for her. Hoyer, while a strong fundraiser, is not a known commodity in Burlington County and cannot be compared to the others. But my point was that you have already deeded this election to Senator Alder. I think that is not only wishful thinking, come November, crow may be on your diet.