LoBiondo denies endorsement report: THIS IS NOT ACCURATE

by: Jason Springer

Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:45:00 PM EST

The Press of Atlantic City reported that Freeholder Director Beyel said I endorsed John McCann ("Beyel said U.S. Rep Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, also endorses the slate").  THIS IS NOT ACCURATE.

I was not part of the decision making process by the Cape May County Republican organization.  I was not asked for my opinion nor consulted with in any discussions concerning the party's decision not to endorse Jerry at any time.

Once I found out about it as the rest of you did, I made it clear I would not be involved in the committee preference vote process.

But now it is being reported that I am.  I AM NOT.

Primaries all over the state for the GOP

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 16, 2010 at 10:45:00 AM EST

I do not think Leonard Lance can be beaten in a Republican Primary. Even if David Larsen won, he would be cut out in redistricting in 2012."

Then in the seats held by Democrats, there are a few primary races to run against the Incumbent. There are numerous candidate running in the 3rd district and Justin Murphy could also get support from the tea partiers as he runs again this year. There is also the primary to run against Rush Holt as Mike Halfacre and Scott Sipprelle will face off in a right v. further right battle and there may be more candidates to jump in the race. Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and others have expressed interest in challenging to run against Frank Pallone as well. The tea partiers are even saying they may put someone up against Scott Garrett from the right, if that's possible in comments to stories that are being written. The amount of candidate running in GOP primaries can be seen as an indication of the enthusiasm and also anger out there with the public right now, who only want to see 8% of incumbent re-elected right now.

By contrast, the Democrats in New Jersey don't seem to like primaries as much. The only primary challenge I've seen so far is one against John Adler, but his warchest will make that an uphill climb. I know inside political circles they tend to shy away from primaries, because it makes you spend resources you want to conserve for the general election battle and take stands you often don't want to defend. But sometimes primaries can better prepare candidates for the trial by fire that is a general election campaign. Even if the GOP candidates don't win their primary challenges, the incumbents will already be in campaign mode given the voter angst right now. The competitive primaries to challenge Democratic incumbents will season them for the rigors of a race. With the climate  and public opinion where it is, it's important that candidates don't wait to start their campaigns and these primaries insure that the GOP won't.

Innevitability

by: gary stein

Thu Feb 04, 2010 at 11:13:24 AM EST

.  

Van Drew won't challenge LoBiondo "this cycle"

by: Jason Springer

Sat Jan 23, 2010 at 10:13:15 AM EST

If a Democrat beats Congressman Frank LoBiondo in this November's election, it won't be State Senator Jeff Van Drew doing it. Van Drew has confirmed to Coastal Broadcasting that he will not be running against LoBiondo in this November's election. The State Senator will be up for reelection 2011, along with Assemblyman Nelson Albano and Matt Milam. Cape May Councilman David Kurkowski ran against LoBiondo in 2008, in the Republican's most recent victory.

"I'm not going to be running in this cycle," said Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic.

DNC targets Lance and LoBiondo over opposition to healthcare

by: Jason Springer

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 05:30:00 PM EST

Through this campaign, the DNC will send a message to Republicans who have reflexively said no to health insurance reform by urging them to do the right thing and support reform when it comes to the House again for a final vote.  The campaign will include press releases, Op-Eds and letters to the editor, local events and will leverage the energy and enthusiasm of the DNC's grassroots supporters and its email list in holding these members accountable for their vote.  The effort may also include paid advertising.  DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan released the following statement on the effort:

"You would think a Member of Congress should think twice about voting against health insurance reform that their families and small businesses so desperately need and want.  But you have to think to vote against health insurance reform in a Congressional District won by President Obama just a year ago could be a political death knell at a time when Americans are clamoring for solutions to vexing issues like health care," said Sevugan.  "These members not only represent districts that voted for President Obama, but also where health insurance reform, as in the rest of the country, is badly needed and where passing it will be politically popular.  Some on the very far right wing would have people believe that voting for health insurance reform is a mistake politically - when the truth is that any Republican who votes against reform, especially those from districts won by the President, will undoubtedly place themselves in real political peril."

Asked about the DNC's targeting of LoBiondo, Galanes asked, "Are they targeting John Adler? ... Just curious."

Bad News for Frank LoBiondo in the NY-23 Special Election

by: Hopeful

Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 02:06:55 PM EDT

This must be a very unwelcome development for Frank LoBiondo. To be sure, he's "pro-life" and part of the Gingrich's Revolutionary Class of 1994, so he has right-wing credentials she doesn't. But his occasional moderate votes are increasingly unwelcome to conservatives both inside and outside of Congress. His vote in favor of the energy bill earned him attacks nationwide by outraged conservatives. There's many who would love to get rid of him.

Now, LoBiondo, unlike Scozzafava, has lots of money and the advantage of incumbency. It's now possible to imagine a successful challenge to him, but it's extremely unlikely. But today we see one more step down a road along which moderate Republicanism is extinguished.

Frank LoBiondo bans contractor misconduct, is trying to cancel all Lockheed contracts!

by: Hopeful

Tue Sep 22, 2009 at 10:23:31 PM EDT

LoBiondo has co-sponsored H.R. 3571, which reads:

To prohibit the Federal Government from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain indicted organizations.

Now, Frank LoBiondo's no dummy. He knows that crooked contractors won't give up their money easily. That's why he and his Republican friends chose the name "Defund ACORN Act," to throw everyone off the scent. You see, even if ACORN stole every cent it was granted in the last decade, it wouldn't even make the top thirty list of contractor misconduct.  And, as Lobiondo and we all know after the AGI bonus outrage, a Bill of Attainder aimed at punishing specific people or companies is unconstitutional. So who will LoBiondo defund with his new rules?

Here's one: Lockheed-Martin, in the past a big supporter of LoBiondo, is responsible for $577 million in misconduct in 50 separate cases according to POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database .  

It's too bad Representative Alan Grayson figured out that so many crooks would be caught in LoBiondo's net. Feel free to add to his google spreadsheet of contractor abuse so that Grayson can file the list of crooked contractors in the legislative history.  

I'm sure my interpretation of LoBiondo's intentions is accurate. After all, it's not possible that Frank LoBiondo only cares about fraud by a non-profit that helps poor people of color?

Does LoBiondo want to get rid of Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP too?

by: Jason Springer

Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 01:30:00 PM EDT

"A government bureaucrat cannot get in the way between a patient and a doctor," he said. "The provisions are not cost effective and not best for the patient."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Along with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, CMS also implements the insurance reform provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The Social Security Administration is responsible for determining Medicare eligibility and processing premium payments for the Medicare program.

And why is a government bureaucrat so much worse than an insurance bureaucrat? If LoBiondo is so serious about what he's saying, let him introduce legislation to get rid of these programs.  Otherwise, he should find another talking point to justify his opposition to covering people.  

New PVI's From Cook Report -- Three Reps Vulnerable

by: vmars

Fri Apr 10, 2009 at 02:57:30 PM EDT

According to the Cook Report we have three districts that are ripe for the out-party, two for the Rs and one for the Ds.  Every two years they put together a new analysis (find out the metrics elsewhere) of the Partisan Voting (PV) index of Congressional districts based on the last vote.

Last year the only ones that were close were NJ3 for John Adler, NJ2 for Frank Lobiondo, and NJ7 for Leonard Lance.  The rest are pretty much out of reach barring a live goat or a dead boy.

Here are the new rankings:

Frelinghuysen [NJ11] R+7
Garrett [NJ5] R+7
Smith [NJ4] R+6
Lance [NJ7] R+3
Adler [NJ3] R+1
LoBiondo [NJ2]        D+1
Holt [NJ12] D+5
Pallone [NJ6] D+8
Rothman [NJ9]        D+9
Pascrell [NJ8] D+10
Andrews [NJ1]        D+12
Sires [NJ13] D+21
Payne [NJ10] D+33

Frank LoBiondo must be getting dizzy

by: Jason Springer

Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EST

LoBiondo Votes Against So-Called "Stimulus" Bill

"Make no mistake, this legislation is considerably weaker in its support to New Jersey's transportation needs than the original House-passed bill."

Reduction in Medicaid Funding ? While providing a boost to Medicaid funding to the states, which LoBiondo supports, the House-Senate compromise reduced the overall funding levels from the original House-passed bill and changed the disbursement formula to the states which translates into a significant reduction in federal dollars to New Jersey despite the fact that it has high unemployment

Limited "Buy American" Provisions - The intention of the economic stimulus package is to create jobs in America, however, the weakened "Buy American" provisions now allow federal funding recipients to purchase over $300 billion worth of products not made in America. Only U.S. steel and federal/military uniforms are covered under the "Buy American" provisions in the House-Senate compromise.

"The President is right to call for an economic stimulus package that will immediately and positively benefit struggling families and our nation?s economy," concluded LoBiondo. "Congress should have and could have created a true economic stimulus that would create millions of new jobs without saddling the taxpayers with excessive, wasteful federal spending. Today, Congress failed the American people."

... And the Rest

by: Blue Jersey

Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 02:10:01 PM EST

With the Obama campaign sucking up so much of the oxygen (and money, and energy, and ultimately the very PA-bound volunteers themselves), most of what was left over was focused on the "hot" races in NJ-3, NJ-5, and NJ-7. Like so often in the past, if you weren't running in one of the hot races, then you found yourself with scant attention being paid to your campaign.

In the case of Senator Lautenberg, and our 7 Democratic House incumbents, no news was good news. New Jersey's voters delivered a solid double-digit win to its senior Senator, and sent the Magnificent 7 back to Washington with an average margin of victory of over 40%. But for Congressional Challengers in NJ-2, NJ-4, and NJ-11, it was a different story altogether.

We look at each of these races in more detail below the fold.  

NJ2: Kurkowski holds LoBiondo under 60%

by: Hopeful

Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:54:41 PM EST

Prediction Thread!

by: huntsu

Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 09:27:58 PM EST

PRESIDENT:
Obama:    %
McCain:    %

US SENATE:
Lautenberg:    %
Zimmer:    %

NJ3
Adler:   %
Meyers:   %

NJ4
Zeitz:   %
Smith:   %

NJ5
Shulman:   %
Garrett:   %

NJ7
Stender:   %
Lance:    %

Complete New Jersey Congressional Poll Roundup: Three Undecided Races

by: Hopeful

Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:55:44 PM EDT

Incumbent Republican Scott Garrett is below 50%, always a bad sign for someone who should be well known, and challenger Dennis Shulman has gained six points in a month according to today's poll. Can he gain more by election day and pull off the upset?  It's definitely possible.

NJ5: Shulman 40  Garrett 47. MoE: 5%  Dates: 10/20-10/22 Research 2000 for Daily Kos
NJ5: Shulman 34 Garrett 49. MoE: 5% 9/17-9/18 Research 2000 for Daily Kos

Democrat John Adler has a lead according to the DCCC in the NJ3 open race, but what's striking here is that everyone is way below 50%.  The public polls pointed toward Adler being slightly behind, but they're quite old now.  Anyone can still win this race.

NJ3: Adler 43 Myers 35 MoE: 5% 10/15-10/16 DCCC
NJ3: Adler 38 Myers 34 MoE 4.9% 10/2-10/3 DCCC
NJ3: Adler 41 Myers 44. MoE: 4.7% 9/30-10/2  Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey
NJ3: Adler 37.1 Myers 38.5 MoE: 5% 9/18-9/20 Zogby for Press of Atlantic City and Stockton College
NJ3: Adler 29 Myers 33 MoE: 5.7% 9/8-9/9 McLaughlin Associates for Myers and RNCC

In the other open seat race, polling shows both Democrat Linda Stender and Republican Leonard Lance way below 50%, so anyone can win.  Once again, the Democrats have recent evidence that Stender is ahead, but the older public poll is less encouraging.

NJ7: Stender 40 Lance 31 MoE 4.9% 10/8-10/9 DCCC
NJ7: Stender 39 Lance 43. MoE: 4.8% 9/30-10/2 Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey

Finally, a poll shows that incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo once again winning big (unless something has happened in the last month.)

NJ2: Kurkowski 26 LoBiondo 62 MoE: 5% 9/18-9/20  Zogby for Press of Atlantic City and Stockton College

My Conclusion:  If you have a chance to donate or volunteer for Adler, Shulman, or Stender you can really make a difference. We know that the undecideds will determine the winner of all three races.

Covering New Jersey Politics

by: Hopeful

Mon Oct 20, 2008 at 04:30:41 PM EDT

the Philadelphia Inquirer never covered my race once. Never interviewed me. Never sent a candidate questionnaire. Never responded to any of dozens of press releases. Purports to oppose the Bush tax cuts, the war, the bankrupcy bill, homophobia, and the Christian Right. But endorsed Chris Smith. This is the state of journalism today. They endorsed someone without even interviewing by paper or in person his opponent."

Having our news dominated by Philadelphia and New York media organizations that don't care about us is one of the many structural problems of New Jersey politics.  Reading the quote above reminded me, though, that I've been meaning to thank the Press of Atlantic City for actually covering the NJ2 Congressional Race year.  Besides commissioning a poll of the 2nd district race, here's a selection of articles in which the Press (mainly the reporter Daniel Wash) actually covers the candidates regularly:

Kurkowski claims LoBiondo broke 'Contract with America' (Oct 11)

LoBiondo votes against revised bailout bill (Oct 4)

Kurkowski says LoBiondo failed to oversee Coast Guard project (Oct 3)

LoBiondo's surprise: He'll debate (Sept 20)

Kurkowski challenges LoBiondo's long record (Sept 20)

Kurkowski challenges LoBiondo's effectiveness (Sept 11)

Now in my local paper, there is usually only a couple of articles covering the incumbent and the challengers. Here we see regular press coverage, which is essential to an informed citizenry.  

Quote of the Day

by: Jason Springer

Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 10:07:00 PM EDT

"Mr. LoBiondo has not responded to a single one of the numerous and specific issues I raised yesterday. He did not deny that he has broken his contract with the voters," Kurkowski said. "He did not deny that his record has led to financial ruin, record deficit spending, a tanking economy, or a failed foreign policy that has cost this great nation its standing in the world- all of this is in direct conflict with the "Contract" he signed 14 years ago. He cannot refute anything I have said. He cannot argue with the facts. He has broken his contract - and should thus be fired."

Quote of the Day

by: Hopeful

Sat Oct 04, 2008 at 04:32:53 PM EDT

"There's no point in my mucking up the debate dais at the next debate," Stein wrote The Press of Atlantic City in a letter Wednesday, "which is precisely why Mr. LoBiondo saw fit to personally shake my hand and invite me to the next round, even though I've criticized him severely in my Web site and attempted to do so again on Tuesday night."

I've heard Republicans blame Bill Clinton for everything, but Frank LoBiondo still surprises me.

by: Hopeful

Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 01:58:50 AM EDT

"I wasn't the only one last night asking LoBiondo to explain his role in this scandal," Kurkowski said. "He was supposed to be looking out for taxpayers and for the Coast Guard. As usual, LoBiondo refused to take responsibility for his actions, passing the buck to-and this is a new one-Bill Clinton. As far as I know, President Clinton wasn't the chairman of the Coast Guard subcommittee."

That's really pathetic. Here are the major dates in the Washington Post article on Deepwater:

Deepwater, awarded in 2002 and modified in 2005,...

The first problems appeared in 2004, ...

Bill Clinton wasn't even President!  But even if Bill Clinton personally programmed the computers that miscalculated the weight of the ships and made the radios that were not waterproof, LoBiondo still bears major responsibility.  After all, we already knew he wasn't running the shipyard.

Kurkowski (NJ2) reacts to debate, brings up LoBiondo's link to Deepwater

by: Hopeful

Sat Sep 27, 2008 at 01:29:23 AM EDT

"This was a strong showing by Sen. Obama," Kurkowski said, "and he touched on topics that are very relevant to the Congressional race here in South Jersey."

"As Obama stated early on, the question we must ask of ourselves is how did we get into this situation in the first place-both economically and internationally," Kurkowski said. "This is about accountability, and it is a question McCain dodged all evening long, just as my opponent is doing."

"Sen. Obama asked his opponent to take responsibility for rubber stamping the policies of the Bush administration for eight years, and he refused to do so," Kurkowski said. "McCain did not refute Obama's assertions about his role in getting us into Iraq and plunging us into this economic mess, just as my opponent has not and cannot refute my assertions about his record. McCain and LoBiondo can try to change the topic or hide behind empty rhetoric, but the voters aren't going to buy it. The times demand better. I know for a fact that Voters are demanding better."

Next, the link to Frank LoBiondo and Deepwater.

Democratic statements on McCain's speech

by: Hopeful

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 01:17:37 AM EDT

"I urge my Republican and Independent friends to think about what this convention is showing us regarding the choice we face this year," Kurkowski said. "I invite all of my neighbors in South Jersey to join me in defeating my opponent [Frank LoBiondo], a man who stood idly on the sidelines as history passed him by, as we've sank into hard economic times and this great nation has lost its role as a global leader."

"The Republicans' presentation tonight was a national embarrassment," Kurkowski said, "from their video exploiting horrific images of 9/11 for political gain, to the offensive speech of Senator Lindsey Graham, whose personal attacks on the Democratic candidates were beneath any national official-accusing his colleagues of supporting 'surrender.' This was a sad night for the Republican party. It is noteworthy that the delegates to the Republican convention declined to applaud Sen. Graham throughout his address; it appears that even the GOP hard core are not prepared to associate themselves with the character assassination and manipulation of people like Sen. Graham. For all of his admirable service to this nation, Sen. McCain is ready to count himself among this crowd, and not to contradict their angry, disingenuous rhetoric."

Hillary Clinton:

The two party conventions showcased vastly different directions for our country. Senator Obama and Senator Biden offered the new ideas and positive change America needs and deserves after eight years of failed Republican leadership. Senator McCain and Governor Palin do not.

After listening to all the speeches this week, I heard nothing that suggests the Republicans are ready to fix the economy for middle class families, provide quality affordable health care for all Americans, guarantee equal pay for equal work for women, restore our nation's leadership in a complex world or tackle the myriad of challenges our country faces. So, to slightly amend my comments from Denver: NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN-PALIN.