Report could hamper Adler’s re-election effort

    Freshman New Jersey Congressman John Adler is not commenting on a report that his campaign recruited a tea-party candidate to draw votes away from Republican challenger Jon Runyan.

    Freshman New Jersey Congressman John Adler is not commenting on a report that his campaign recruited a tea-party candidate to draw votes away from Republican challenger Jon Runyan.

    Democratic operatives told the Courier Post that Adler’s campaign ran a petition drive that got Peter DeStefano on the November ballot in the Third Congressional District with the goal of siphoning votes from Runyan.

    Rutgers University political science professor David Redlawsk says Adler could have done well without DeStefano in the race and his re-election effort could be hurt by the report.

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    “It really would qualify as a dirty trick. Something intended to mislead voters. It was dumb. I think that Adler himself should have said no if he knew about it. I think that in the end it puts his re-election at risk.”

    Political analysts say the issue could increase anti-incumbent sentiment and hurt Adler’s attempt to win a second term in a historically Republican district.

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