Dennis Shulman for U.S. Congress: Sensible Leadership for New Jersey’s 5th District

July 27th, 2008

In the race for New Jersey’s 5th District seat in the House of Representatives, incumbent Scott Gar rett maintains a fundraising lead and remains a favorite to beat Democratic challenger Dennis Shulman.

The gap is not insurmountable, Shulman’s camp says, and the race has been labeled by the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as one of 20 “emerging” contests in the nation where Democrats are hoping for upsets.

Garrett, 49, noted in a recent fundraising letter that he faces a tougher race against Shulman, 58, than his prior solid victories over Democratic challengers in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

The missive carried a more- than-usual “sense of urgency” found in typical fundraising letters and a tone of concern not seen in his prior campaigns, said Jeff Hauser, Shulman’s campaign manager.

“Customarily, incumbents don’t even mention opponents” if their re-election appears secure, Hauser said.

Garrett campaign manager Amanda Gasperino disputed that assessment and said Garrett takes every election seriously.

“A fundraiser letter is something that every campaign uses, it’s nothing new,” Gasperino said. “It was a well-written letter to continue to motivate folks to continue to support Scott Garrett. It wasn’t to say we were worried. We are going to actively campaign as we have done every year.”

The district, which includes Warren County, most of Sussex County, the northern half of Ber gen County and part of Passaic County, tends to give the GOP big pluralities at the polls, but most voters are in moderate-leaning Ber gen County. Garrett is a resident of Wantage in Sussex County and Shulman, lives in Demarest in Ber gen County.

A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee “emerging” race is not as competitive as one deemed a “red to blue” race, in which more funds and effort would be allotted to try to defeat a GOP candidate. Yet, a month after the June primary, the campaign committee ran radio ads during the July 4 weekend against Garrett, who is known as New Jersey’s most-conservative member of Congress.

“Dennis Shulman has put together a very strong campaign, his values are in line with the district, and he has an incredible personal story,” said committee spokeswoman Carrie James.

New Jersey state GOP chairman Tom Wilson said of the Democratic committee’s support: “It’s the same line they give every Democratic candidate. ‘Oh yeah, he’s on our radar screen.’ I don’t think we’ve seen any evidence of DCCC money coming in to help Shul man.”

According to the candidates’ most-recent Federal Election Commission reports:

Garrett raised $992,251, disbursed $534,292 and had $649,003 on hand.

Shulman raised $585,486, spent $327,105, and had $258,381 left. Nearly 10 percent, or $54,000, has come out of his own pocket, including a $35,000 personal loan. Garrett has not contributed any money to his campaign.

Both candidates raised most of their funds from individual contributions. Of Garrett’s funds, $593,182, or 60 percent, came from individuals. Shulman’s $455,209 in individual contributions represented 78 percent of his funds.

Garrett received $389,482 in PAC donations, which accounted for 39 percent of his funds; Shul man received $40,000 from PACs, or 7 percent.

A rabbi and psychologist, Shul man has generated an outside buzz the Democrats in the three prior races did not. That Shulman, who has been blind since childhood, would become the first rabbi in Congress if elected has been noted in Time and The New Yorker.

“Anyone who accomplished what he has with his life story is clearly a problem solver,” Hauser said. “We think that’s a sharp contrast with Scott Garrett, who has an ideology-first approach.”

Gasperino countered, “Everyone knows Congressman Garrett will do what is best for the Fifth District.” As for Shulman getting mentioned in national magazines, she said, “It’s nothing different that I know of in the past campaigns.”

Wilson said the articles were due to Shulman’s “very unique personal nature. It’s not often you find a blind rabbi running for Congress. It’s kind of an anomaly.”

Nevertheless, Shulman faces “some cold hard facts,” Wilson said. “It is a Republican district, and even in the nightmare (for Republicans) landslide year of 2006 (for Democrats), Scott Garrett bested his opponent by double digits. Scott Garrett is an incredibly strong incumbent. They talk about it all the time — ‘he’s out-of-step with the district’ — well, he’s not. I predict he’ll win again by double- digits.”

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