NJ-3: Sen. Adler Mulling Run v. Saxton

[MAS117]

http://www.politicsnj.com/adler-mulls-race-vs-saxton-10458

Frankly, Saxton has a lot of cash.
2004: 51-48 Bush.
If I recall correctly, Gore won it and so have Menendez, Lautenberg, and Corzine (Gov race).

Adler has $200,000 already and Saxton $1,300,000.

Adler.  Talk about a hack.

Why do you say that?

[MAS117]

While I do not deny the fact that Adler has ties to Norcross, I dispute the fact that he is a hack and a puppet for George Norcross. John Adler is one of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. He is an independent thinker, and the fact that Chris Christie called him a "third rate bureaucrat was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

This race has a chance to be competitive. If Adler decides to run he will not go down without a fight. I knowledge a huge hill battle in this district. Fund raising wise I have no doubt in my mind that he can catch up to Saxton. He already has about 200K in the bank and if John does decide to run I expect a large amount of support from the DCCC and other organizations to support him.

[MAS117]

While I do not deny the fact that Adler has ties to Norcross, I dispute the fact that he is a hack and a puppet for George Norcross. John Adler is one of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. He is an independent thinker, and the fact that Chris Christie called him a "third rate bureaucrat was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

This race has a chance to be competitive. If Adler decides to run he will not go down without a fight. I knowledge a huge hill battle in this district. Fund raising wise I have no doubt in my mind that he can catch up to Saxton. He already has about 200K in the bank and if John does decide to run I expect a large amount of support from the DCCC and other organizations to support him.

Well, Lord, with Norcross behind him, I have no doubt that Adler would be flush with cash.  That's the only reason the guy was able to knock off Lee Laskin in 1991—a $1.9 million campaign when such things were unheard of.

(Not that there was anything special about Adler back then, of course—anyone with that kind of money could have knocked off Laskin.  It was Norcross who beat Laskin, not Adler.)

That kind of money buys you a heck of a lot of influence, and he's had 16 General and Primary Elections since to drop even more cash.

According to Philadelphia Magazine, "(a)nd of course, they call him: Adler counts Norcross
among the few he consults before making legislative decisions."  There's really no question that Adler wouldn't do a single thing that might affect Norcross negatively.

It's Norcross first, Adler second, and the people of the Sixth last.  I can't imagine what kind of Congressman he'd be, and quite frankly, I'd rather vote for someone carrying the "Worker's World" banner than for John Adler.  I'm lukewarm about Saxton, but my God, he's ten million times preferrable (and independent) than the alternative.

Smart, maybe—I can't dispute Adler's gotten far in politics.  But there's no question in my mind—none—that Norcross owns Adler.  Adler was his first major purchase!

I do not deny that the reason the Adler won in 1991 was because of Norcross' fund raising. Lets put that into perspective though. In 1991, the Democrats controlled no aspects of pretty much anything in Camden County and South Jersey. The Assembly and Senate seat in the 6th were solidly R and had been for years. They needed a leader, Norcross stepped up and took the reigns. You have to applaud him for turning this region from solid R to solid D. That in itself is an accomplishment.

The other thing I would say to you is this, don't take everything you read in newspapers and magazines for the truth. I know firsthand that the level of which that article states the relationship of legislative decisions is not completely accurate. On matters dealing with Banking and Insurance and stuff like that, yes he does consult with leaders like Norcross, as he is one of the leaders of that industry in South Jersey and the 6th. I think that the degree to which the Philly Mag article takes it is unwarranted, which is why I said that Adler is an independent thinker.

I know exactly what kind of Congressman he would be, an amazing one. Adler cares deeply about the people of the 6th District and the State of New Jersey immensely. What does someone carrying "The Workers World" banner mean?

To say Norcross first, Adler second, is completely not true. If you ever met the Senator then you would think otherwise. To say that George Norcross owns John Adler is just DEAD WRONG.

[MAS117]

I suppose it's worth noting that Norcross is the most powerful of the Commerce boys, but just about everyone who makes New Jersey the awful, politically-nasty state that it is has ties to the bank.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Norcross, Florio, and Lynch—it's the trifecta that bleeds New Jersey taxpayers dry.

Don't forget DiFrancesco!

and:
In March 2003, South Jersey's powerful Democratic political leader George E. Norcross III was named to the board on the same day as former Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco. The board also includes Joseph Buckelew, former chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party.


Also,
Commerce just opened their first bank in my county. I may open an account, they happen to be American's most convenient bank.

I worked at Commerce for a year. I have to say they really are Americas most convenient bank. Vernon Hill has really revolutionized the banking industry.

[MAS117]

I have not been ignoring anything, I was in South Carolina and just returned home this afternoon. I have said I need to say. I do not know the inner workings of Commerce Bank, I just worked there. Whatever way you think of Vernon Hill, you can not deny the fact that he has revolutionized the banking industry.

As to a previous comment, I do think that Adler can raise a significant amount of money to keep up with Saxton.