Former Statehouse reporter John Froonjian is political editor for The Press of Atlantic City. E-mail him at jfroonjian@pressofac.com.

When the Republican Party presents its best face to voters at its national convention in two weeks, most of New Jersey's Republican congressional candidates will be far away from the show.

Only three of the state's 12 Republican House candidates plan to attend the convention beginning Sept. 1 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, calls to the campaigns revealed. (No Republican is running in the 10th District.) Republican Senate candidate Dick Zimmer also will attend.

Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, and Chris Myers, Republican candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, will remain in New Jersey during convention week.

By contrast, seven Democratic House candidates, New Jersey's two U.S. senators and an incumbent congressman not running for re-election plan to attend the Democratic convention starting Aug. 25 in Denver.

The number of Republicans expected to be absent from John McCain's nominating convention is being noted across the country. TheHill.com reported July 31 that the Republican congressional campaign chairman urged his candidates to skip the convention as "a waste of time" and to remain on the campaign trail. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., reportedly also encouraged candidates to criticize their own Republican Party if it helped.

The Web site Politico.com last week identified a convention "enthusiasm gap" between the two parties, noting Democrat Barack Obama will accept his nomination at a sold-out, 75,000 seat stadium.

New Jersey Democrats charge the Republicans are trying to hide their partisan label because unpopular President Bush has damaged his party.

Republicans denied they lack enthusiasm for McCain or that party leaders cautioned them away from the convention. But they admit the political climate is tough for Republicans. They say they don't want to squander precious campaign time for what one Republican staffer privately called "a big cocktail party."

"It certainly is a sign that this is a tough election year," LoBiondo said. "You can't take anything for granted, and I never have and never will."

LoBiondo attended the Republican conventions in 2000 and 2004. But they were in Philadelphia and New York, respectively. He said he drove to both and stayed only part of the time. This year's convention would require a bigger commitment.

"It's more important for me to be home and stay connected with my constituents than to travel to the convention," LoBiondo said.

Myers' spokesman, Chris Russell, said Myers wanted to go and that it was a "tough call."

"But the people out there will not decide this election. So it's better to spend the time here," he said.

Some Democratic challengers came to the same conclusion. LoBiondo's opponent in the 2nd District, David Kurkowski, isn't going, a spokesman said. Linda Stender, the Democrat in the highly competitive 7th District race, also will stay in New Jersey.

But state Sen. John Adler, D-Camden, Myers' opponent in the 3rd District, will attend his convention as a delegate. Camille Andrews, the 1st District Democratic candidate, plans to attend, as does her husband, retiring Rep. Rob Andrews - for whose seat his wife is running.

"The Republican brand is really damaged," state Democratic spokesman Rich McGrath said. "The enthusiasm gap is a mile wide. It's not just theory."

He said New Jersey Democrats registered 400,000 new voters this year. He said Republicans hope to distance themselves from their party but that Democrats won't let them.

"If they think by not going to the Republican convention that they can hide from the Republican label, they're only fooling themselves," McGrath said. "Voters will recognize it. It's like the proverbial red elephant in the room."

State Republicans dismissed such talk.

"I was with Sen. McCain in Teaneck (Tuesday) night, and I fully support him," said state Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Warren, Hunterdon, Stender's Republican opponent in the 7th District. "I'm not going (to the convention) merely because of time constraints. But I'm very enthusiastic about his candidacy."

Vincent Micco, the Republican in the 9th District, echoed those comments. But he cited another reason for not attending the convention.

"My wife and I have four boys aged 3, 6, 9 and 15. And our anniversary coincides with the Republican convention," he said. "It's hard to get a babysitter. So we have to cash our chips in with my mother-in-law wisely."

Where's the party?

Speaking of avoiding party designations, a number of federal candidates in New Jersey fail to trumpet their party labels on campaign Web sites. Some simply bill themselves as an "independent voice."

The Press of Atlantic City checked home pages and biography material on state House and Senate candidates' Web sites. Of the nine Republicans whose sites could be found using Google, only four mention they are Republicans on one or both of those pages. Five make no mention of their party on the home page or in biographies.

Democrats fared better. Of the 12 with campaign Web sites, eight say they are Democrats on one page or both. Four do not give their party on either.

Myers does not mention his Republican status. LoBiondo's Web text doesn't either, although his home page features independent news reports that say he is a Republican.

Only Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-11th, banners his party designation. "Republican Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen" appears at the top of every page on his site.

Web update

The latest campaign finance summaries and lists of all campaign contributions to area House candidates have been posted on The Press' Web site at:

www.PressofAtlanticCity.com/campaign

Survey says

The latest Quinnipiac University poll found Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., leading Dick Zimmer in the Senate race 48-41 percent. But Zimmer is heartened by the fact that he holds a 44-42 lead among independents, who decide most elections. And 55 percent say that Lautenberg, at 84, is too old to serve effectively.