NEWARK – Undaunted by the poll numbers and cash advantage of chief U.S. Senate candidate opponent Cory Booker, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone said the state needs an elected official who can get results.
“We need a senator who’s actually going to go down to Washington, reach across the aisle, pass legislation and make a difference,” he said Wednesday after attending a voter rights event with state Democratic lawmakers at St. Joseph’s Church.
He cited one of his more recent accomplishments, the passage of the federal Affordable Care Act in 2010, as an example.
“I often talk about health care reform as an example. We had all these people who were uninsured….I stepped in and helped write the law that made a difference.”
Pallone also mentioned his work on legislation intended to keep beaches safe and clean. Just this morning, he was in Belmar discussing legislation he helped write that would require Shore
He refused to talk about the perceived uphill battle he faces against a well-financed, well-known candidate like Booker.
“I’m not going to talk about advantages or disadvantages that any candidate has. There‘s got to be interaction with the people and that’s what I’m doing, directly interacting with people. I think people on Aug. 13 will make a decision based on who they believe can best get things done. ”
Booker, who is mayor of Newark, was not at the voting rights event, which was also attended by U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-10th Congressional District) Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34) of East Orange, who also is running in the Senate primary, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono.
