Holt, Runyan, and Pallone Among The Winners in New Jersey House Races

As expected, Republicans gained control of the House tonight in the 2010 midterm elections, but it appears that the Senate will remain in Democratic hands....but the votes are still being counted.

Here in New Jersey 12 of 13 incumbents were re-elected. Only incumbent Democrat John Adler fell to former Philadelphia Eagle Republican challenger Jon Runyan in New Jersey's 3rd District, 50 to 47%. By taking the traditionally Republican district back from the Dems, the GOP had a net gain of one seat in New Jersey.

Two other races that were watched closely in New Jersey were the 6th, where Democratic incumbent Frank Pallone withstood a feisty challenge from Republican/Tea Party candidate Anna Little. His 54-44% victory was initially a nail-biter, with Pallone trailing by double digits until the vote from Democratic strongholds in Union and Middlesex counties was counted.

An even closer race was in my home district, the New Jersey 12th. Rush Holt, the Democratic incumbent, won 52 to 47% with 505 of the 537 precincts counted, defeating GOP challenger Scott Sipprelle. Holt trailed early on by more than 20 points early on, but once again Middlesex and Holt's home county of Mercer came in strong with 52% and 70% respectively.

Holt's people were manning the phones, and had people on the street today to get out the vote. At 7PM tonight my doorbell rang; it was a Democratic worker dropping in to see if I had voted already. I had.

This one was THAT close. Rush Holt and the Dems had to really work for this one.

For a look at the congressional races in New Jersey, click here.

I'll be back with an analysis of the state and national results tomorrow morning.

Follow the Money (Part II) Chamber of Commerce Sponsors Attack Ad in New Jersey 12th District

Congressman Rush Holt, Democrat, New Jersey 12th District

A most topical political attack ad has been seen by thousands in Central New Jersey.

The fine print at the bottom of the ad tells this part of the story...."The US Chamber (wwwuschamber.com paid for and is responsible for the content of this ad. Not authorized by any candidate or any candidate's committee."

According to this advertisement, Republican candidate for the New Jersey 12th District, venture capitalist Scott Sipprelle, had nothing to do with an attack ad on his Democratic opponent, incumbent Rush Holt.

This ad has been airing on TV stations the New Jersey 12th District, which gerrymanders through of parts of Somerset, Monmouth, Middlesex and Mercer counties in that wonderful world between the New York and Philadelphia megalopolises we call "Central Jersey". And it's my home district.

Below is the ad in question.



Alright.... neither Mr. Sipprelle, the Republican Party, nor agents of the candidate or the party had anything to do with this attack ad. It's from the Chamber of Commerce- they take full credit for it. Either click the link, or type in the web addie at the end of the video. It's from the Chamber, let there be no doubt.

I have three questions, not as a Democrat, or a self styled "citizen journalist" but as a voter in the New Jersey 12th District....are the charges that foreign multi-national corporations are dumping perhaps millions of dollars into the Chamber of Commerce to produce attack ads like this one true?

And one has to ask....what is the motivation for a foreign company to weigh in financially in American elections unless it is to gain some sort of influence?

And finally, should a candidate who'd benefit from such ads repudiate them, if it can be determined that these ads are even partially paid for by foreign corporations who may have their own motives to support the ads?