On Atlantic Convention Eve, Singh Will Rally Supporters at McCullough’s

By Matt Rooney
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Regardless of whether you choose to see everything that’s transpired to date as democracy in action or a massive party screw-up (David Wildstein used the phrase “train wreck”), what everyone agrees upon is that Atlantic County’s GOP convention, scheduled for this Saturday in Northfield, could prove decisive in the CD-2 GOP primary to succeed Frank LoBiondo.

The sprawling, multi-county South Jersey congressional district has now seen five different counties respectively endorse five different candidates; there are eight total contestants.

Atlantic County, however, is likely to produce around one-third of the June primary’s total vote yield, making who wins “the line” this Saturday potentially critical.

If Indian American businessman Hirsh Singh (of Atlantic County) wins? He’s the front runner. Not quite presumptive given the race’s volatility but certainly moving in the right direction.

If someone other than Singh emerges victorious? Particularly Sam Fiocchi, the former LD1 Assemblyman who is backed by Cape May County which, in its own right, supplies around 1/5 of the vote? We may have a genuine race on our hands.

Tomorrow could help narrow the field. Candidates who haven’t won a county may decide, at that point, that there isn’t enough support to continue or, due to simple economics, the odds of victory have grown too long.

Singh isn’t taking anything for granted, particularly after the support of the powerful (but CD-2 vote deficient) Ocean and Burlington Republican organizations failed to inspire “deep” South Jersey chairmen to rally around the charismatic and well-heeled 30-something candidate. He’s planned a reception at McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links in Egg Harbor Township — complete with Lenten-appropriate menu for observant Christians in attendance — which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23rd, the night before the big vote and only a short hop down Fire Road.

The convention itself is likely to yield a victor by Noon on Saturday.

Matt Rooney
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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.