Dan Benson

Josh Zeitz in Hamilton today: Politicker Photo

HAMILTON - At a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser in New York City on Thursday, Michelle Obama asked 4th Congressional District challenger Josh Zeitz if he thinks New Jersey will be a battleground for her husband.

Zeitz told the first lady prospect that New Jersey is safely Democratic territory. Then he added something specific about his own challenge of entrenched U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4).

"I told Michelle Obama we’re going to work hard, and yes, we’re going to win that race," he said of his longshot bid to upend the veteran Smith and help give Obama a solid majority in Congress.

As they listened to the story, a small crowd clapped in Zeitz’s Hamilton campaign headquarters, which the candidate opened today on South Olden Avenue, a few blocks from the congressman’s house.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, left, and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, served as delegates at the party's convention. 

TRENTON - At their standing room only convention in the Masonic Temple on Saturday, Mercer County Democrats selected two full-term candidates for their county freeholder slate in November, and a third to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Elizabeth Muio. 

The winners were incumbent Freeholder Lucy Walter of Ewing and banker John Cimino of Hamilton for the three-year term seats, and Dan Benson of Hamilton for the unexpired term.

Next month, two major Democratic county strongholds will see important internal party contests.

Mercer County is set to see a significant turnover during its March 15th county committee convention. Its Democratic Chairman, Richard McClellan, plans to step down shortly. Meanwhile, Freeholder Elizabeth Muoio will resign on March 1st, giving a number of Democratic hopefuls a chance to take over her seat. Failing to win Muoio’s seat, some of those candidates may challenge Democratic incumbents Tony Mack and Lucy Walter, whose terms expire this year.

In neighboring Middlesex County, Freeholder John Pulomena has resigned so that the board can appoint him to a position as county administrator, while Freeholder Camille Fernicola has said that she will not seek another term.

The Democratic slate in the politically competitive 14th district will be Seema Singh for State Senate, and Linda Greenstein and Wayne D'Angelo for State Assembly

HAMILTON - Wayne D'Angelo bested Dan Benson in a Saturday morning Democratic Party match-up of prospective district 14 Assembly candidates in Hamilton Township.

With the victory, D'Angelo, an IBEW union leader and former Hamilton Township Council President, joins a Democratic Party district 14 Legislative ticket that includes attorney Seema Singh for State Senate, and veteran Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein.

"It's an honor and a privilege to stand before you," D'Angelo told party committee members after Mercer County Democratic Party Chairman Richard McClellan announced that D'Angelo had beaten Benson.

"Let's get campaigning," said D'Angelo.

Wayne D'Angelo defeated Dan Benson by a 41-37 vote to become the Democratic candidate for State Assembly in the 14th district.  D'Angelo, a labor leader and ex-Hamilton Councilman, will seek the open seat of Republican Bill Baroni, who is running for State Senator.

Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein has made several phone calls to Democratic County Committee members in Mercer County today seeking support for labor leader Wayne D'Angelo for State Assembly, according to multiple sources with strong knowledge of the legislative race. D'Angelo and '05 candidate Dan Benson -- both former Hamilton Township Councilmen -- will face off on Saturday to be Greenstein's running mate for the open 14th district seat.

Democratic sources say the race for an open Assembly seat in the 14th district has narrowed to former Hamilton Council President Daniel Benson and former Hamilton Councilman Wayne D'Angelo, who will compete in an open convention this weekend for the chance to run for Republican Bill Baroni's Assembly seat.  Hamilton Mayor Glen Gilmore sought to clear the field for D'Angelo, Democrats say, but was rebuffed by Benson, the Democratic Municipal Chairman.