By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Election 2013 is days away, Save Jerseyans, but candidates interested in a shot at 2014 can’t afford (quite literally) to wait until January to get started.
A Democrat primary for the right to take on Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ02) is already taking form in South Jersey.
Now Anna Little (R-NJ06) is launching a third bid for New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District seat.
“You deserve a Congressman who will take your voice to Washington,” said Little, a former Monmouth County mayor and freeholder, in a late Thursday night email. “You deserve a Representative who will challenge failed policies, cut through spin and tell the TRUTH about ‘Obamacare.’ I’m Anna Little and I want to work for YOU in Washington.”
Little ran unsuccessfully as the GOP nominee to unseat Frank “Monkey Court” Pallone in both 2010 and 2012. Pallone’s recent and truly bizarre television appearances appeared to contribute to the timing of Little’s move.
Not everyone is enthused by Little’s decision. A few folks are more than a little unimpressed. Our good friend Art Gallagher over at MoreMonmouthMusings, a Little supporter turned critic in the last cycle, accused the candidate of “singing a familiar refrain” in her announcement email. Some of our own Save Jersey bloggers have been critical of her professed political acumen (or lack thereof) in the past. 2012 also laid bear the extent to which congressional redistricting rendered CD6 more blue by depriving it of key Monmouth territory.
But with all of that being said, folks, you can’t discount Little’s determination and charisma in low-turnout primary fights. I’ve participated on panels with her in the past and she’s a smart cookie. What remains to be seen (besides who else might get in the race) is how she’d treat 2014 differently from a strategic/coalition-building perspective and, as the competing CD2 story line illustrates, no one is quite sure of what the 2014 cycle will look like by this time next fall. An Obamacare backlash? Or a shutdown rebuke? Roll the dice…
Text of her full announcement email is reproduced below the fold:
By now you must have seen NJ highlighted in news reports about the ongoing “Obamacare” debacle. Once again Rep. Frank Pallone (CD6 NJ) is defending “Obamacare.” Once again Frank Pallone is ignoring you and all you’ve told him.
Remember when he told us “Obamacare” was a good law and he wrote it? Now he is spouting spin about insurance scams and outright denying the facts pertaining to cancelled policies. When confronted about his statements Frank Pallone sneered at Megyn Kelly and called a Congressional Hearing a “monkey court”.
Is this the best NJ can do? Is Frank Pallone really the best representative NJ can muster?
You deserve a Congressman who will take your voice to Washington. You deserve a Representative who will challenge failed policies, cut through spin and tell the TRUTH about “Obamacare.” I’m Anna Little and I want to work for YOU in Washington.
You fueled our campaign to replace Frank Pallone in 2010, donating your hard earned money to fight special interests in Washington and gathering 125 people strong every Saturday to knock on over 100,000 doors. You made over 100,000 phone calls to NJ voters and marched on Frank Pallone’s home town over 200 strong, sending the message that YOU are in charge, and YOU will direct your government.
Together we made history in 2010 coming closest to victory in 20 years. 2014 is the rematch. Are you ready to finish the job?
Please join our effort to replace Frank Pallone in Congress with a hardworking NJ business owner who understands what “Obamacare” means to you and your family. Please donate whatever you can to gear up for 2014’s epic battle to take back Congressional District 6 for New Jersey families.
We promise to tell the TRUTH about Obamacare. We promise to work hard to make you and New Jersey proud.
Sincerely,Anna LittleRepublican Candidate
for U.S. Congressional District 6 (R-NJ)
Please just shoot me
She's a nice person, but it's not gonna happen.
I would definitely vote for her if I lived in her district.
I read on wikipedia she is a "Tea Party approved' candidate from a previous run for the seat.I say go ahead and run. With the approval polls for tea Party tanking after the #GOPShutdown, the third time will not be the charm.
I read on wikipedia she is a “Tea Party approved’ candidate from a previous run for the seat.I say go ahead and run. With the approval polls for tea Party tanking after the #GOPShutdown, the third time will not be the charm.