Assembly Republicans are spending money in the 14th district in a clear bid to stop 21-year-old college student Brian Hackett from winning the GOP primary. At least five mailings have been sent out on behalf of restaurant owner Rob Calabro and attorney Bill Harvey, who are running on the Mercer County organization line. Hackett is running alone on the line in Middlesex.
The campaign to oust incumbents Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton) fell apart a week before the filing deadline when the two candidates recruited by Republicans, Hamilton Councilwoman Kelly Yaede and former Cranbury Councilman Wayne Wittman, unexpectedly changed their minds about running. Mercer Republicans convinced Calabro, a former Freeholder candidate, to run. But when Middlesex couldn't find a candidate and Hackett showed up at the convention and won, Mercer refused to accept him. Middlesex has stuck with Hackett, the winner of their convention.
In 2005, about 600 more Republicans voted in Mercer than in Middlesex. In 2001, the Mercer edge was about 500.
There continues to be speculation, strongly denied by Republicans, that they would look to switch out Calabro and Harvey after the primary.
