TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address from two days ago has shell-shocked the capitol, upsetting equilibrium and making it difficult for legislators to focus on far flung and lower level political battles.
But state Sen. Jim Beach (D-Cherry Hill), on his way in to a joint Labor Committee, takes a moment to reflect on the 3rd District Congressional candidacy of former Philadelphia Eagle Jon Runyan, who formally launches his campaign tonight in Mount Laurel.
Runyan’s seeking the GOP line to challenge U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), the man who vacated the senate Beach now occupies.
“Anyone is a legitimate candidate,” said Beach.
A football player?
“I don’t know anything about the guy,” said the Democrat. “Certainly being a football player isn’t a required qualification to serve in Congress.”
Running for a congressional seat that was controlled by Republicans going back to the 19th Century, Adler defeated Chris Myers in 2008, but now appears at ground zero of the most anticipated congressional contest of the cycle with Runyan attempting to run a lunch bucket, Flint, Michigan-background campaign against him.
“John Adler is a very qualified legislator who has proven himself year after year and earned the opportunity to serve,” said Beach.
The dimensions of the contest as defined so far by the combatants: legislator versus outsider.
