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Poll: Who should challenge Frank Pallone?

Thank you to all who participated in the design of this poll.

For good reason, political pros consider a challenge to an incumbent congressman an unwinnable  race.  Given Frank Pallone’s war chest and the gerrymandering of the district, the conventional wisdom certainly applies in NJCD-6.

All too often the candidates who take on this challenge, “taking one for the team” feel bitter after the experience.  They get no support, no money.  They are on their own.  When its over, they are rarely celebrated.   They feel used, because they were.

A smart candidate taking on such a race would measure their success not on the ballot result, but on what they built.  A candidate could take this on to lay the ground work for a future race, for this office or another.  To get a message out and alter the agenda.  To hold the incumbent’s feet to the fire or force them to spend time and money that they otherwise wouldn’t spend.

As we saw in 2010, a Republican challenger in CD-6 could win the Monmouth County portion of the district and still lose the election.  That helps the ticket elsewhere on the ballot.    Monmouth Demorcrats will attest to the fact that they lost on the municipal level in Bayshore towns in 2010 because of Anna Little beating Frank Pallone in those towns.  In 2012, without a credible alternative to Pallone on the ballot, the GOP will give many voters a built in reason to ticket split.  That would be detrimental to county and municipal candidates.

In selecting the 20 candidates for this poll, I omitted John Curley and Toni Marie Angelini from the list because they are running for reelection in their current offices.  I added candidates mentioned in the comments.  I added Charles Measley because 1) he included me in his poll, 2) Charles would drive Pallone crazy, and 3) Charles running would be fun. I added David Corsi for the same reasons.

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Posted: February 4th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: 2012 Congressional Races | Tags: | 15 Comments »

15 Comments on “Poll: Who should challenge Frank Pallone?”

  1. Simple Logic said at 8:38 am on February 4th, 2012:

    Why isn’t Councilwoman Carol Mazzola on your list?

  2. Not one unless.... said at 10:24 am on February 4th, 2012:

    One of these fine individuals has the gumption to call the relaxation in the “pay-to play” rules that the Freeholders recently adopted wrong!

    Not one unless one of these fine individuals comes forward to call out the bad behavior (pension fraud) at the Sheriff’s Department wrong–and demands that the sheriff publically give an accounting for the actions of himself and his predecessor.

    Not one unless one of these fine individuals seeks explanations why high-ranking county park officals get subsidized housing on the backs of taxpayers.

    Not one until these fine individuals joins Curley seeking answers at Brookdale.

    Then, and only then will I support one of these fine people.

    http://www.app.com/article/20120204/NJOPINION01/302040018/Shameful-start-out-box

  3. Justified Right said at 11:40 am on February 4th, 2012:

    Thanks for including me on the list Art.

    I can tell you right now that were I to mount a campaign against Pallone it would be done they same way I coach my football players:

    Smashmouth.

    Everyone who runs against Pallone is exceedingly nice to him.

    That would end fast.

    Unlike Jacobson, I’d make a run right at the Asbury Park Press and their biases as well.

    Without mony you have to make news, and the place you have to make news to beat Frank Pallone is in the Star Ledger.

  4. Justified Right said at 11:42 am on February 4th, 2012:

    Sorry for the spelling above – I never spell check before posting (some websites let you back in to edit).

    Also, I’m distracted from writing a new blitz defense for practice this afternoon.

    That would be the same campaign strategy I’d use against Frank.

  5. Proud Republican said at 3:21 pm on February 4th, 2012:

    Why is Anna Little even on the list? She burned the citizens of the Highlands by voting with the liberal Democrats for a huge giveaway to the police union. She has shown herself to be petty and vindictive (obviously punishment of her hometown for not coming out to vote for her) and willing to sell out her convictions to settle a personal score. She is finished locally.

  6. Go Anna said at 8:57 pm on February 4th, 2012:

    Proud Republican she is better than Kyrillos who accepts donations from criminals like his hometown boy Dwek!

  7. Ted said at 10:34 pm on February 4th, 2012:

    I say that guy from Middletown, Patrick Short, …beat Pallone within his own party.

  8. Jean Arnone said at 2:03 am on February 5th, 2012:

    Charles Measley, committeeman from Rumson — young, bright, dedicated, charismatic, a fresh voice for New Jersey. It is time for a change, and it is time for the Republican Party to begin to “pass the torch to a new generation.” If Charles runs, we will be actively supporting, and campaigning for him.

  9. Jim Sage said at 9:29 am on February 5th, 2012:

    Charles has my vote!

  10. Charles M said at 2:12 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    Art thanks for considering to put me in the poll.

    I appreciate everyone’s support that voted for me! The Republican Party will soon be passing the torch to a new generation and I would be honored to take that torch and hold it high!

    Sadly the constitution is stopping me from running for congress as of now, I’m only 22. But that’s why there is 2014…

  11. ArtGallagher said at 2:19 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    Charles M said at 2:12 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    Sadly the constitution is stopping me from running for congress as of now, I’m only 22. But that’s why there is 2014…

    Are you sure? Do you have an original long form birth certificate?

  12. Charles M said at 2:39 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    I would have to check with the Kenyan… I mean Long Branch hospital where I was born. LoL

  13. Proud Republican said at 3:10 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    TR – Pat Short couldn’t beat his pet hamster in a primary. Good job lightening up Super Bowl Sunday with some real levity.

    And Go Anna – please come back to earth. Anna Little is more washed up than Brett Favre – without the career stats to look back fondly on.

  14. Proud Republican said at 3:45 pm on February 5th, 2012:

    Sorry – meant Ted, not TR.

  15. Let the former running-mate said at 11:02 am on February 6th, 2012:

    Jacobson put his money/influence where his mouth is: take him on, Dan!..then we will see how brave you are..( of course, this is hypothetical, as we’ll never see Dan become an “R.” to do so, and he/we know being an “I” won’t work!).. I tell ya, nobody scared of losing will ever put themselves out there- but the rush will be atmospheric, the moment Frank either ascends to Senate or leaves this planet,however!