Former Eagle G. Cobb ‘leaning’ toward run for Congress

When Camden County Republican Chairman Thomas Booth told me Wednesday the party had found its candidate for the congressional seat being vacated by Democrat Rob Andrews, I think he might have been on the wrong snap count.

 

I use the lame football joke here because the candidate Booth told me about was former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Garry Cobb, who’s made a name for himself as a sports-talk radio personality.

Booth encouraged me to call Cobb, but the call was returned by Pat Breslin, a friend and co-author with Cobb of the self-help book “Don’t Be Clueless.” Breslin said the man known to fans as G. Cobb is “strongly leaning” toward running, but not quite ready to announce anything.

“There’s a couple more people he wants to connect with,” Breslin said. “He’s looking at everything from, you know, can he get enough support? Obviously in running for this type of office, resources, financial support is a huge thing.”

Breslin said Cobb expects to decide in a week or two.

New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District will be an uphill climb for any Republican. The respected Cook Political Report rates the district as a “D – plus 13,” meaning that it performs 13 percent better for Democrats than Republicans. That’s landslide territory.

The Democrats’ consensus candidate for the seat is state Sen. Donald Norcross.

Breslin said Cobb, who has a degree in sociology from the University of Southern California, is “passionately interested” in some issues, including the importance of limited government and personal responsibility.

Breslin said Cobb began thinking about running as far back as Thanksgiving. He had his eye then on the 3rd Congressional District seat, which another former Eagle, Jon Runyan, was vacating after two terms in office.

When Andrews announced his departure, Cobb, who lives in Cherry Hill, refocused on that seat.