AP: National Dems again targeting GOP Reps. Ferguson, Garrett in '06

[Kire]

National Dems again targeting GOP Reps. Ferguson, Garrett in '06

By DONNA DE LA CRUZ
Associated Press Writer

April 2, 2006, 10:00 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- In the political coloring book, New Jersey's color is blue, as in Democratic blue.

So it's no surprise that national Democrats have again focused in on two of New Jersey's Republican congressmen as targets in this year's elections, calling both way too conservative for the Garden State.

Rep. Scott Garrett is opposed to abortion and gun control. Rep. Mike Ferguson is for school prayer and said he would support a constitutional amendment banning abortion.

Both congressmen were targeted in the 2004 elections, but both were re-elected easily. Garrett was first elected to Congress in 2002, Ferguson in 2000.

Democrats say this year, their strategy will work because of President Bush's dismal disapproval ratings, which they hope will spill over into congressional races this year. Other issues that could work in favor of Democrats include outrage over the continuing conflict in Iraq, the government's poor planning for Hurricane Katrina, the confusion over the new Medicare Part D plan that has angered many senior citizens and corruption among Republicans in Washington.

More: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--targetedrepublica0402apr02,0,1320071.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

"Dismal disapproval ratings"? Does that mean he's got delightful approval ratings?

[Kire]

1. Ther's some good commentary in BlueJersey.

http://www.bluejersey.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=1166

[NJ Democrats]

2. Hopefully we beat Garrett.

I hate him so much. And I get his stupid mail things. I just rip them up and throw them out.

[FogerRox]

3. Im in Essex, going to organize some meet a greet fund

raisers, for Paul.

And then a Honk & Wave rally for Paul, on an upcoming saturday.

[mconvente]

4. Linda Stender going up against Ferguson in the 7th

The Rutgers Democrats hosted her last night and her ideals and comments were published in the Daily Targum (Rutger's newspaper). She's definitely a keeper - thinks we need to be "tough and smart" on Iraq, not just "tough". Before you kill her on those comments, read more:

"We're being ruled by an administration that has misled and mismanaged at every turn."

"The only shock and awe that I've seen is what happened when our country couldn't even respond in the aftermath of Katrina."

She is very critical of Ferguson being a "reliable rubber stamp for the Bush administration" She stated that lobbyists crafted healthcare legislation to yield tremendous profits at the expense of those who need healthcare.

She's definitely someone I will fight for in the upcoming months. She is more liberal than Paul Ahronson (sp?), who's running against Garrett in the 5th, so that's great.

[FogerRox]

5. Linda has a DFA logo on the front of her web site . . ... Cool . .