NJ-09: Rep. Rothman (D) to challenge Rep. Pascrell (D) in June primary

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Rothman lives just outside the district?

Yes. The mashup basically put his hometown of Fair Lawn (Dem leaning but not horrendously so) in the 5th district. I'm not sure why the GOP took Hackensack out in favor of Creskill/Tenafly, though.

Rothman will have the support of the Bergen Democrats, and Rothman is on appropriations. He can win this no problem.

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Both seem pretty generic D to me, which makes this hard to get excited about. I'd rather have one be clearly preferable. I suppose I'll root for Rothman since it's pretty unfair how he sort of got tossed under the bus.

His own party tossed him under the bus in their own map.

Rothman comes out with his endorsement list. Basically every known Democrat in Bergen County.

http://vmmi.net/media-room/press-releases/rothman-reelection-announcement/


In addition, the DCCC offered Rothman $1 million upfront and another $1 million if Rothman proved himself viable in polling in NJ-05. He declined.

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In addition, the DCCC offered Rothman $1 million upfront and another $1 million if Rothman proved himself viable in polling in NJ-05. He declined.

Meanwhile, the picking for Democrats in NJ-05 without Rothman are kinda small. Passaic Freeholder Terry Duffy is looking, as is ...

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First primary problem for him is that there are few Democrats in the Passaic portion of this district.

The discussed candidates are LD-38 Assemblywoman Connie Wagner and Assemblyman-elect Tim Eustace. Wagner is really talked about mainly for being female and not because she has much of a shot.



Another interesting note of course is how Cherry Hill was retained in the 3rd district in both 1990 and 2000. Norcross was insistent that Cherry Hill remain in the 3rd in order to keep John Adler and Susan Levin out of the 1st district. Incidentally both Adler and Levin ran against Jim Saxton in the 3rd and lost by large margins.

Also, Woodbridge was placed into the 7th primarily to screw over Joe Vittale, and of course the attempt was made to protect Marge Roukema from Scott Garrett.

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Gary Schaer, an Assemblyman from Passaic representing both Passaic and Bergen endorsed Rothman. Blood is in the water.

Maybe Pascrell just ends up retiring?

Pascrell has 238,000 people of his old district in the new NJ-11. Rothman has 150,000 people of his old district in the new NJ-05. Funny how Pascrell and his backers are not moving districts and are blaming Rothman.

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And Pascrell calls down the union lords on Rothman.


http://www.politickernj.com/53576/mullen-rothman-moving-your-home-challenge-one-your-own-doesnt-make-sense
New Jersey State Building and Constructions Trades Council - Bill
Mullen, President
United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)
New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades - James Kehoe, President
UA Pipefitters Local 274 - John Wende, Business Manager, Financial
Secretary-Treasurer
UA Sprinkler Fitters 696 - Kevin Bellew, Business Manager
UA Plumbers Local 24 - Eric Boyce, Business Manager, Financial Secretary
Laborers International Union of North America, Raymond M. Pocino, Vice
President and Eastern Regional Manager
Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joners of America; Michael Capelli, Executive
Secretary-Treasure; John Ballantyne, Assistant Executive
Secretary-Treasurer
Sheet Metal Workers State Council - New Jersey
Sheet Metal Workers Local 25 - Joe Demark, Business Manager
IBEW Local 102 - Patrick Delle Cava, Business Manager
Ironworkers, Local 11, Ray Woodall, Business Manager
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) NJ State Joint Council - Ray Greaves, Chair
ATU Local 819, Benjamin Evans, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 820, Lou Castro, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 821, Earl Hardy, Jr., President/Business Agent
ATU Local 822, Sherman Ariel, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 823, Nancy Spence, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 824, Jack Hill, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 825, Richard Star, President/Business Agent
ATU Local 880, Steve Knestaut, President/Business Agent
National Association of Letter Carriers Local Branch 120 - Paterson,
Don Hill, President

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This is going to get ugly, fast. Pascrell crashes Rothman's party with the Bergen County Freeholders.

Plus, Pascrell's list is bigger than Rothman's list.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Pascrell_releases_list_of_Democratic_officials_who_back_him.html


http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/136719483_Can_Pascrell_win_Bergen_hearts_before_the_election_.html

http://www.politickernj.com/53533/bergen-county-reorganization-meeting-becomes-setpiece-pascrell-v-rothman

"Good evening, everybody," Rothman told the chamber. "Welcome to all visiting dignitaries. Welcome to Bergen County - the county I have lived in all my life, and where I look forward to continuing to serve."   



"Personalities," Pascrell said when asked how voters will be able to distinguish him from his opponent on the issues. 

"We have different personalities," he added. 

Pascrell said he didn't like the way Rothman challenged him. 

"The night he decided he was going to run he called me and told me 'you're my friend, I love you.' If you love me, you don't run against me," the congressman said. "You don't treat friends like that." 

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http://www.politickernj.com/54313/pascrell-will-not-cease-be-thorn-rothman-s-side-bcdc-celebrates-county-sweep

http://www.realdemsstandandfight.com/

Pascrell crashes Rothman again. I wonder if he's having him followed.



http://www.politickernj.com/54237/pascrell-goes-after-garrett-and-rothman-one-swoop


Infuriated, Pascrell tonight charged Rothman with dereliction of duty.

"As a proud military veteran," the 15-year incumbent said, "I remember what the acronym AWOL means."






This is so fun.

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Pascrell seems like a piece of work. Is he always this demagogically perferid?

Well, he has to establish a difference between him and Rothman, and he has to overcome Rothman's Bergen County position.

Now he's calling on Rothman to be like his 'friend' Brad Miller and GTFO.

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http://www.politickernj.com/54350/wagner-wont-challenge-garrett

Wagner won't challenge Garrett in 2012

"I've decided I'm not going to do it," the Assemblywoman told PolitickerNJ.com.





I guess she's smart and not under delusions that a Democrat can win the 5th district.