CD3 Primary Battle Expands

Steve Lonegan announcing his CD3 candidacy back in 2014

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Lonegan rallyIt’s war on all fronts in CD3, Save Jerseyans, with only two months to go before primary voters decide to endorse the latest Lonegan rebellion or go with a new face favored by both county’s Republican organizations.

The stakes are sky-high with CD3 emerging as a top Democrat target (and NRCC defense) and, to boot, a potentially-tough freeholder board control battle on tap for the fall in Burlington County. The kicker? On Monday, in an effort to improve his chances of winning the GOP nomination to replace Jon Runyan, former Mayor Lonegan upped the ante by fielding his own slate of county candidates in both Burlington and Ocean, too.

MacArthur forces insist it’s yet another example of Lonegan putting himself before the party’s well-being.

“After being rejected by voters for the 5th time in a bid for higher office last year, Steve Lonegan swore he would never run again,” said veteran GOP strategist Chris Russell by way of a MacArthur campaign release. “Then, a few weeks later Lonegan went back on his word and said he wanted to run for Congress in the Third District, but only if he received support from the County Republican Parties in Burlington and Ocean.  Then, after failing to garner any party support in either county, Lonegan went back on his word once again and announced he would run anyway.  Now, Lonegan is running Freeholder candidates against popular Republican incumbents in both counties in a selfish attempt to divide the Republican Party he claims to care so much about.” 

The experts are divided as to whether having his own slate helps or hurts Lonegan. The “pro” argument explains how a cadre of candidates beneath you on the ballot carries obvious benefits, not the least of which is visual. The “con” argument? While the Burlco GOP is openly out to decimate Lonegan, Ocean’s Gilmore was apparently much more agnostic towards his run… until his freeholders were threatened. Now the organization in Ocean, capable of producing large numbers, has no choice but to try hard. Could it all backfire on Lonegan?

Russell also isn’t wrong about the broken retirement promises. Lonegan said repeatedly that the October 2013 challenge to Cory Booker would be his last race, and more recently, said he wouldn’t continue in the CD3 primary if he didn’t receive party support.

Granted, Lonegan is hardly the first candidate to declare an end to his career only to change his mind not all-too long down the road (e.g. Richard Nixon not getting “kicked around” any more after losing to Pat Brown in 1962). Lonegan fatigue isn’t apparent in the early polling which has been strong for the former AFP chieftain and perennial statewide candidate given his superior name recognition.

So why do MacArthur’s supporters believe Lonegan’s anti-establishment, anti-RINO rhetoric won’t play in this reddish South Jersey district?

Well, for starters, they believe their guy is the real conservative this time around.

“The bottom line is that Tom MacArthur is going to win this race because of his experience as a conservative, self-made businessman,” continued Russell. “Tom will focus on creating jobs, repealing and replacing Obamacare, rebuilding the Jersey Shore after Sandy, standing up against President Obama’s cuts to our military and securing the future of the Joint Base and its positive impact on our regional economy and our national defense.”

Even before convention season concluded, the MacArthur campaign was already dinging Lonegan for what they characterize as a less-than-robust level of support for a strong military in light of Lonegan’s call for military spending cuts. The Third Congressional District is home to a large veteran population and thousands of military industry personnel, including 44,000 jobs tied, both directly and indirectly, to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Yes, it’s a tough time for the party but admittedly great fun for political bloggers!

I visited with Tom on Tuesday night at a Burlington County Young Republican event in Evesham; I’ll post the video of our chat ASAP, Save Jerseyans.

 

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

8 Comments

  1. The biggest problem with MacAurthur, aside from being liberal, RINO, self interested party guy? He does put political party ahead of public trust. Let’s face it the, both political parties have run this country into the ground. No sense in voting for the lesser of two evils, elect statesmen not politicians.

  2. A primary fight is a good thing. It sharpens the winner for the fight leading to November.

  3. A tax and spend GOP candidate is not Conservative! His record speaks for itself. The only chance he has is that low info voters are duped by his words. Lonegan’s record speaks for itself! A true Patriiot of Freedom and Liberty who unabashidly stands for the Constitution and the Taxpayer. Something the NJ GOP seem to forget about!

  4. I’m interested to see how this plays in to the Senate race. Lonegan is supporting Jeff Bell, but they aren’t bracketed together. If Goldberg has the line in both counties, a Lonegan victory could make his victories there bad things-Lonegan voters will likely vote against the line, and though I’m sure Goldberg will carry the day in both, it will probably force his numbers down greatly in his top 2 GOP counties. By number of GOP voters, Burlington and Ocean are the only 2 lines Goldberg has in top-10 counties. Neutralizing them is a big win for his opponents-I’m sure they’re all thanking Lonegan. No one is bracketed with him, but many will be voting against the line.

  5. Lonegan won the 3rd in his Senate race against Cory Booker. Took 54% of the vote. The GOP could not be more foolish by backing a Rino Progressive. Damned fools. No matter Steve wins the seat and the regular GOP learns a lesson. It’s all good.

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