Even with Biden, Van Drew says no
By Wally EdgeJeff Van Drew insists he won’t be a late entrant into the second district House race against Republican U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a district where Democrats think Joe Biden’s presence at the top of the ticket could help a congressional candidate in Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties – where some residents watch Delaware TV.
Van Drew did a late entrance once before: sensing a change in political climate, he got into the State Assembly race in late summer 2001 and unseated five-term GOP incumbent Jack Gibson (one year after winning a seat on the Cape May Board of Freeholders). But LoBiondo is no Gibson (or Nicholas Asselta, the incumbent State Senator he ousted last year), and Van Drew gets that raising federal money quickly isn’t easy, especially against LoBiondo.
The Democratic nominee, Cape May City Councilman David Kurkowski, is not being taken especially seriously by his party, who are much more optimistic about their chances of picking up open Republican House seats in Districts 3 and 7. And they already have one long shot candidate who seems to have Tier 2 all to himself: Dennis Shulman, a blind Rabbi who has enjoyed considerable fundraising success in his bid to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett.
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JVD is a joke
Even with BHO and Biden JVD could not beat Lobo. Someone will finally expose him as the fraud he is.
two things...
Van Drew didn't get in the race because he saw head to head polls with him and LoBo. He'll go for it in 10' expecting huge financial advantage and lower turnout to help him, but LoBo will probably prevail, if he doesn't retire.
And I'm no scott garrett fan, but seriously when will the lovefest with Schulman stop? Garrett will win, you can all stop hyping the race up to be way more than it will actually turn out to be.
money
Van Drew is right, its too late to get in and raise federal money. Plus, the DCCC has picked its districts already, and likely wouldn't add a late entry in.
He missed his window. 2008 may go down as his best chance.
Van Drew is Perfect for his District
If he wants to run in 2010 he will win. But for now he is the perfect advocate for the needs of his District. He is open, honest, and available and has become a real asset to the Senate.
He is needed in the State Senate now.
Van Drew
"Hi I'm Jeff Van Drew, I'm afraid to pull the trigger." Who needs him, who wants him, he's slippery, arrogant, and ineffective.
Blah, blah, blah.
Then explain why LoBo has been running around like a chicken with his head cut off for the past six months, scared to death about whether or not Van Drew will enter the race, numbskulls.
Money
The DCCC was already running an anti-LoBiondo ad last year or so (when they were running an anti-Saxton one) in anticipation of Van Drew running; but the money dried up when he opted out, and Kurkowski subsequently stepped in. Kurkowski, who is doing what he can, needs some press releases and other means to get his name out more.
If he had money, who knows what could happen, especially when LoBiondo's antiquated form of social conservatism is better known as is his pro-Iraq War policy positions. Of course, if the state instituted LoBiondo's anti-immigration plan (no earned citizenship), then the entire farming economy in his district would tank; but then again, logic and LoBiondo have never really gone well together.
If i had to vote between the two
I might have to write in for Bill Hughes
And there it is.
We already knew you were from that moribund, losing faction of the South Jersey Democrats from 20 years ago, blue.
The only question is whether your true identity is Jennifer Lookabaugh, Eddie Salmon, one of the old Ocean City crew, or one of the Hughes'.
I lived
In Toms River 20 years ago. Sorry. I respected Bill Hughes as a Congressman, deplored LoBiondo when I moved here and find Van Drew to be slippery and ineffective. I am hardly an insider-but its clear that you are certainly an veteran of his campaigns (Should I just start calling you Ms. Murphy or is it Van Drew now?)...just because you love this man with all of your heart and soul doesnt mean that we all have to. He's not Ghandi, he's a lackluster press hound that has brought nothing to his district...and he'll write you a piece of legislation that says that. Just because I find him smug and ineffective does not mean that I have a 20 year old grudge, I'm simply someone who lives in his district. But be happy as long as he is the democratic nominee for office in this district, I'll be voting for him (my finger still trembles when I reach for his button)
the R's are reaping their seeds
The CMC R's created Van Drew and some of the Republican leadership still help him. Camden county has taken over Cape May County. Van Drew is a liar, philanderer, and all around bad person. He helped stop the Parkway overpass getting built and has the gall to stand with the families of victims. Everyone sho votes for him should be ashamed.
Wow.
We're not debating in factland anymore, are we, Toto? No, we're now living vicariously in groundless fantasy territory.
We do seem to have struck a nerve (or three), though.
Let's see the evidence for any one of your libelous accusations. Otherwise, I hope Wally zaps them immediately for the actionable lies that they are.
The simple fact of the matter is that Jeff has carried Cape May County no less than half a dozen times, and it isn't because he has built strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with several dozen Republican officials... it's because the county's voters have always known him to work harder than anyone else for their interests. If you want to call that showboating, go right ahead. You can keep on missing the boat for another 20 years.
Ha
If the missing the boat is a reference to me I'll just say I'd rather miss the Van Drew boat than drink the Van Drew Flavor-Aid. Maybe we should all invest in boats as a matter of fact I read Van Drew lit 2 years ago that said "fix the beasly's point bridge immediatly" or something of that effect, he's done wonders there. He done wonders at assailing the governor of his own party, he done wonders taking the Norcross money to beat out Asselta (a man he pledged to never run against). You and I both know George Norcross came down and to help elect Albano and funded JVD in his last election. For all of JVDs cufflinks, tie clips, and hair gel he lacks any real substance. Stick to cleaning teeth Jeff.
truth hurts
Trust me I still have the ads he sent out from every campaign he has run. He opposed the overpass, had the state stop the process and therefore is responsible for the deaths of innocent people. His first attempt at assembly his slogan was They didn't finish Rt 55, I will. He was the assistant leaders in the assembly and did nothing.
truth hurts
Trust me I still have the ads he sent out from every campaign he has run. He opposed the overpass, had the state stop the process and therefore is responsible for the deaths of innocent people. His first attempt at assembly his slogan was They didn't finish Rt 55, I will. He was the assistant leaders in the assembly and did nothing.
Calm down, Frank
Jeff already said he isn't running in this cycle.
And just to set the record straight, he most certainly did not oppose the overpass. He opposed levying a new toll on Cape May County drivers to pay for it. Jack Gibson said "bring on the new toll plaza."
I am not frank
but the state said they would pay for overpass if they could put up an off ramp toll plaza. Jeff opposed it and the state stopped it, therefore, Jeff stopped the overpass. He also lied about rt 55 and about ALOT of his personal and professional dealings.
Unite
The Hughes faction and any sore feelings over that is before my time, but I can't help but think we should unite any and all South Jersey Democratic factions, if they exist, in lieu of seeking a larger goal: defeating right-winger Frank LoBiondo. On a day when Democrats are finally truly united behind Sen. Obama's presidency, I can't help but think we should put a united front forward against LoBiondo. Van Drew didn't vote the way I wanted on abolishing the death penalty, but he has a very strong environmental records, and I'm always reading about local efforts, marinas, beach replenishment, etc., that he is working for in the senate and assembly. To say Van Drew would be better than LoBiondo for his district, the state, and the country in congress would be an understatement, to say the least.
But Van Drew isn't running, and David Kurkowski stepped up to the plate when no one else would. He deserves full and complete support: local fundraisers, volunteer opportunities for his campaign, blogging and issues awareness on LoBiondo v. Kurkowski.
We could start by giving a few bucks for Kurkowski's campaign via his Act Blue Page The Solid Democratic South starts with us; let's make it happen on the federal level, too.