Lance Held Under $1M

by: huntsu

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 05:19:35 PM EDT

That doesn't include the joint fund he and Chris Myers set up to accept money from the Bush fundraising event.

For the quarter Lance raised $522,941.98 and has $258,032.54 cash on hand as of September 30.

Linda Stender's report has not been posted, but she previously announced that she had raised $681,000 in the third quarter and had more than $600,000 cash on hand.

Pre-Debate Thread: Fireworks or Frustration?

by: huntsu

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 04:21:36 PM EDT

What do you expect?  Is McCain going to go all out with Ayers and Wright, or will it be issues oriented.

Who's going to win, or -- even better -- what constitutes a win?

The live blogging debate thread will go up at 8:45 p.m. tonight, and a post-debate thread will go up when they're done annoying us.

Blue Jersey Radio Tonight at 6:30pm - with the DSCC's Hannah August

by: Jeff Gardner

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 02:30:00 PM EDT

This week: Our guest is Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Deputy Communications Director Hannah August. Or, in acronymspeak, the DSCC's DCD, HA. Hannah is a former Senator Menendez staffer, and joins us tonight with insight on New Jersey's Senate race, and races around the country. Are we really looking at a filibuster-proof majority? Find out tonight on Blue Jersey Radio, at a special time - 6:30 p.m.

And, of course, Jason and I will follow up the interview with the week in New Jersey politics, and the Garden State implications of national stuff ahead of tonight's final presidential debate.

Questions? Problems? Momentary bits of brilliance? Leave 'em in the comments. Or, as always - give us a call during the live show tonight at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time and have your say. Just call: 646-652-2773.

Talk to you then!

Republican Endorses Republican! Film At 11!

by: huntsu

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 02:15:00 PM EDT

I tell you, I am shocked -- nay, SHOCKED!!!!! -- that a former Republican presidential candidate "formally endorsed" a Republican House candidate.

I expect tomorrow's Press will have a story about a dog biting a man on the cover above the fold.

QOTD: Acting now to forestall a larger crisis

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 01:08:37 PM EDT

A step towards ethics

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 12:53:56 PM EDT

Except now the matt is bloody as hell.

I had an email exchange a few months back with a woman who, I believe, was caught in the crossfire of this blending of government branches.  Because she asked to remain anonymous, I can't give you details, but she worked for an organization that depended on this grant program to pay its bills.  Then, without warning, the money disappeared and the State Senator responsible quit taking her calls.  As a result, the woman I spoke with was owed several thousand dollars of back-pay.  I can only assume that several creditors are in the same boat.

More after the jump.

Blue Tide: Cumberland County

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 12:33:25 PM EDT

The largest bloc of voters, as in most NJ counties, are the unaffiliated voters, which number 47,482.  As I've noted elsewhere, given the lack of any reason to expect differently, those unaffiliated voters will likely split in a similar manner as the partisan voters.  That would mean a likely near-20,000 vote surplus for Democrats in Cumberland County.

DCCC Drops $$ in NJ7, NJ3; NRCC Drops $$ in NJ7

by: huntsu

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 09:45:00 AM EDT

In a sign that the NRCC still thinks NJ7 is salvageable, they put $19,385 down on Leonard Lance's behalf.  Of course, that is a drop in the bucket compared to the money the DCCC is throwing at the race.

But they did nothing in NJ3, an indication that their polling may show a lost cause for Chris Meyers.

Update: Today is October 15, so we should start seeing real fundraising numbers as reported to the FEC coming out later today.  It may tell us a lot.

News Roundup and Open Thread for Wednesday, October 15, 2008

by: Scott Weingart

Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 08:16:37 AM EDT

Voter registration

Sales tax

The bailout

Energy

Inane editorial of the day

Dolphins

DCCC gets behind Shulman (finally)

by: clammyc

Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 07:08:48 PM EDT

For starters, the DCCC has updated its Red to Blue list to include NJ-5's Dennis Shulman.  

This means that there will likely be a late in the contest influx of funds and exposure for Dennis as he continues his campaign against one of Congress' most odious of Representatives.  Hopefully, this isn't a "too little too late" play, and hopefully if when Dennis wins the seat, the DCCC won't be coming in to take credit for what has been a very solid overall campaign against an incumbent who is even more out of the mainstream than Bush.

But we here in NJ-5 will take whatever we can get if it gives a better shot of sending Garrett back to the district for good.

Also, in a sign that Garrett may be hearing the footsteps, he has agreed to three debates over the next 2 weeks.  Dates and times are below:

Sunday, October 19th at 7PM: Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley, 87 Overlook Drive, Woodcliff Lake, NJ

Wednesday, October 22nd at 8PM: Sussex Community College Performing Arts Center, One College Hill Road, Newton, NJ

Friday, October 24th at 11AM: WRNJ Radio, 100 Route 46 West, Hackettstown, NJ (or listen at wrnjradio.com)

Things are looking up here in NJ-5 for the first time in decades - don't miss being a part of this historic opportunity.   Donate here.