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The Republican Party’s right wing is targeting U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, the moderate seven-term Republican who represents southern New Jersey’s 2nd District.

If you search for “Frank LoBiondo” and the term RINO on Google.com, you’ll get about 1,050 entries. Many are conservative political blogs, such as RemoveRinos.com or SaveTheGOP.com. While they are not all widely read, there are a lot of them, and most have something in common.

They don’t like LoBiondo, and they want him out of office. Some dub him a RINO — Republican in Name Only — and call for conservative opponents to challenge him in a primary election. Prominent commentators, such as Michelle Malkin, have singled out him and other moderate Republicans as “turncoats” after they voted in June for a cap and permit system for carbon dioxide emissions.

Some conservatives are emboldened by an upstate New York election that saw a moderate Republican drop out just days before Election Day after a Conservative Party candidate drew support from 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and others.

Could LoBiondo face electoral challenges from the right and the left in 2010? Some think so. Others don’t.

LoBiondo, 63, represents a sprawling district that covers Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties and parts of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties. He has long had his Democratic critics, as would be expected.

Erick-Woods Erickson, editor of the conservative Red State blog, noted that LoBiondo’s district went for President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2008, but he doesn’t think Democrats will nominate a significant challenger.

“My suspicion is that he’s going to be more concerned about a primary challenge than one from the Democrats, because this is going to be a good year for Republicans,” Erickson said.

Others think the seven-term congressman will face another ho-hum election year, with just token opposition from the Democrats. The 2008 election was the first time he received less than 60 percent of the popular vote in a re-election campaign, and he still collected 59 percent while Democrats won big elsewhere. His Democratic opponents have typically not been nearly as well-known as he is, and the party has not spent much money to support them.

Many have looked to state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, to challenge LoBiondo, and Van Drew has indicated he might like to run some day. But it probably won’t be in 2010, Van Drew said.

“I don’t anticipate having a congressional run,” Van Drew said. “I’m just focusing on these state issues.”

But, he added, “I never say never. I’ve been surprised before.”

LoBiondo has long had one of the most independent voting records in Congress, according to Congressional Quarterly. Last year, for example, only nine House members voted with their party less often than LoBiondo.

LoBiondo said he’s running for re-election and voting his conscience and on behalf of his district, not a national constituency. For example, take his vote against last year’s bank bailout, which Republican leaders supported but many other Republicans opposed.

“I was convinced it was the right thing to do, and I was right,” LoBiondo said. “You had a lot of Republican leadership who voted for the bailout. I don’t know if people are saying they’re Republicans in name only.”

His willingness to go against his party’s leadership — and its majority, as he has also done plenty of times — has driven right-wing anger toward him.

“Certainly you see a lot of anger on the conservative blogs, certainly on the national level, but who’s going to challenge him?” said John Gizis, a University of Delaware astronomy professor and Woodstown Democrat who writes the Frank LoBiondo Record blog. “My impression is that people don’t feel this will be a strong Democratic year, especially after (Gov.-elect Chris) Christie’s election. Maybe they’re not feeling confident.”

Longtime LoBiondo watcher Sharon Schulman, director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, agrees. She thinks Democrats might take a pass on seriously challenging LoBiondo this year as well, and she doesn’t expect a serious primary challenge either. LoBiondo’s support from labor and environmental groups and a campaign account now over $1 million could dissuade Democratic challengers, as could the timing of next year’s election. Mid-term elections have historically not been kind to the president’s party, whether he was Republican or Democrat. The president’s party has lost House seats in 15 of the last 17 mid-term elections.

“Mid-term elections are not a good time to do things like this, unless we find the economy progressing,” Schulman said.

No one has declared a challenge against LoBiondo.

Contact Daniel Walsh:

856-649-2074

DWalsh@pressofac.com

16 comments:

• HBrogen (3) posts 11:44 pm

  Congressman Lobiondo has made me proud to be his supporter for many years - in spite of his term limit vs. running for re-election again & again. His accomplishments for and support of Coast Guard, FAATC, local events, and constituent services will make his legacy one any politician would envy. One of his prime obligations he successfully fulfills is his being so accessible to the people in his district through public and radio appearances. I was proud listening to him on WOND Don Williams’ show as he explained his ‘nay’ vote for a healthcare reform bill as he said he decided by talking to experts such as doctors & other healthcare professionals. But, when he, on another time on the same radio show, said he talked to the experts of cap & trade – being head tree hugger (and former slacker employee of Atlantic Electric) of the Sierra Club - Jeff Tittle, I was livid hearing him say he voted yes for it. What kind of expertise is that? What political allegiance does he have to the Sierra Club? Where does that represent my best interest? I will be seriously looking at his opposition come election time. Sorry Frank, but if Steve Lonegan ran, he would win my vote.

• jillbo18 (19) posts 8:12 am

  LoBiondo voted for Cap and Tax. You can see now just how devastating this bill is because Obama is having the EPA get the same resultwihout the legislation. People from the UK have testified that as destrutive as Obamacare will be, Cap and Tax will crush the economy. What is it that people don't understand? You can look up what this bill means just as easily as LoBiondo. Every company that can't pass the enormous energy costs to their customers will close and the jobs will go to china. I'm sure they have their fingers crossed that we pass this idiotic law.

• susansmith (108) posts 11:36 pm

  I am a prolife, progun, lifelong fiscal conservative who sometimes disagrees with Frank LoBiondo. But Frank is a good man who calls back when you have a question or disagree with a vote. He has earned my respect and I support good politicans.

• Bobstake (244) posts 7:37 pm

  The Congressman is good honest man. He calls them as he sees them for the people of his District. I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH HIM BUT I RESPECT HIM.

• FredAkers (11) posts 7:23 pm

  Thanks to Daniel Walsh for doing this piece. Frank LoBiondo is one of the most competent, honest, and considerate politicians that I have known in my 60 year life. This is not to say that I agree with Frank's position on every issue, but it is to say that I have learned to have great respect for his judgement, candor, and personal class across the board. I strongly support Frank's continued representation of the Second District for NJ. Many voters do not realize that the experience and seniority of our federal representatives is extremely important for bringing federal dollars and other benefits to our state. Frank LoBiondo has been a real work horse and dedicated representative for our district, and his departure would be a huge loss for the 2nd District here in NJ.

• iggern (30) posts 7:04 pm

  seagull,you are the idiot and in 2010 we are gonna squash you libtards like the cockroaches that your are.

• snbdr63 (15) posts 3:52 pm

  We need new blood, the both parties are the same. I am sick of not being represented, look at the senators we have, a joke. Wake up people these crooks are stealing from us blind with left right para dine while walking out the back door with our tax money. Healthcare bill, rip off, cap& trade bigger rip off, the bailouts and stimulus bills rip off. We have the greatest robbery in world history taking place now, vote new ideas in.

• moverightalong (195) posts 2:56 pm

  Thrush like all your posting we must have been brought up with true knowledge and understanding (A Mind IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE) I do not care about that expression, but since it came with the territory I concur

• moverightalong (195) posts 2:46 pm

  Leave Frank alone you rectums that do not know what you think you are talking about So. Jersey would be in worst shape if not for Frank. I have known Frank for well over half a century, I will say no one can ever get everything right all the time. Frank has always tried to lay the card on the table whether in goes with the suite or not, just a thought to ponder. No I am neither a Elephant or Jackass!!!!

• Thrush (329) posts 2:10 pm

  "It's really interesting watching the rightwing Republicans attacking their own party members" -- almost as zealously as the San Francisco Democrats are attacking Obama. DONTASKDONTSUCK, for starters. Let's see, then there's those 30,000(!!) troops for Afghanistan ("Brry's War"). And several other things - typically, homo "marriage" - the radical Democrats are fuming about! "What goes around, comes around." Next question?

• Thrush (329) posts 2:07 pm

  "Nice move rightwing GOP -- make your party even more irrelevant than it already is." -- NY's 23rd Congr. District? BFD!! who needs it? the independent won, until the faux-GOP fat broad turned traitor. There's the lesson. The governorships of New Jersey and Virginia were a worthy consolation prize, don't you agree??? And watch the Midterm Elections, it will be a rout, just like 1994. Welcome back, GOP, we sorely need your adult supervision in D.C.

• Thrush (329) posts 2:03 pm

  Marian is spot-on. If you read of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Melanie and Maximin in La Salette, France in 1846, and to Bernadette at Lourdes (18x) in 1858, and in Pontmain in 1879, each one correlates to a time of national distress for France. England had butchered Archbishop Thomas a Becket at Canterbury on the King's orders, and extirpated Catholics from 1550 onwards. Heaven clearly shifted its favors to France, which remained officially Catholic until 1905, and is easily the greatest all-around country in the world today. At one time, God showered America with many favors, starting with its development by deeply religious Quakers and Puritans and Pilgrims and others. MARY-land was one result, as was Catholic Georgia with Oglethorpe, as I recall. In a mere 300 years, we've gone totally off the rails. In the coming few years, many Americans will experience a religious revival re: 2012 End Time prophecies and a general malaise (by then Iran will have been bombed by Israel). It will be the same general anxiety as 1999 turning to 2000, but with an ominous Armageddon shadow. And when America's prayers reach Heaven, what will the resident Devil's Advocate there cite to God?: millions dead from AIDs (lust); the financial collapse (greed); 45 million abortions, without so much as a blush (promiscuity); divorce rates in California (60%) and elsewhere sky-high (selfishness); suicide rates continuing to soar among age 45-60 males (despair); ADULTERY everywhere you turn (lust); children hating parents; mothers killing their infants; urban blacks killing each other; white suburban kids shooting up their high schools; governments pushing marijuana on young people to get $$$ (greed); adultery in the White House, and all over Congress, and mayors, governors, and other hi-profile figures (lust); and America blasting all kinds of sexually promiscuous sitcoms and PBS agit-prop programs to the galaxy. "Why do the terrorists hate us?" For much of the same reason that God may be starting to hate us. Read the book "Life after Life" by Howard Storm, atheist professor, who died and went straight to Hell. He's now a (conservative) Lutheran minister with a church in Ohio (a hellish state, concededly). He says very convincingly that he was told several times in the half-hour or so he was dead, and had been yanked out of Hell by Jesus, that the decision was made in the mid-1980s (a few years before he briefly died) to end Project Earth. There are many other inhabited worlds across the universe, he was told (which explains where UFOs originate, BTW). The book is less than $10 on Amazon, I think, or it's EZ to skim it in Barnes & Noble, or Borders, etc. Compare his book to "27 Minutes in Hell" by another near-death experiencer, which is seriously scary, but lacks the depth of Rev. Storm's. Read the La Salette prophecy: "Paris will be aflame, and Marseilles under water... The priests have been corrupted... Pray for France." The people had not responded with prayer and atonement two years before when the wheat crop failed, so the following year the nut crop failed, because God is a vengeful God when disregarded, Mary said. Note: the day after the La Salette apparition, Melanie began to go to daily mass. She did so until the day she died, 58 years later, a Catholic nun. Maximin tried to become a priest, lacked the temperament, and became a staff member of a monastery, until he died. They were two rustic illiterate shepherd kids, about 15, who'd only met two days before. Naive, untutored, unlettered, their life all marked out in rural France. The same as Joan of Arc (1429), as Bernadette at Lourdes (1858), as Jacinto, Francisco, and Lucy at Fatima (1917), and the 6 visionaries at Medjugorje (1981 - ): all children, unimpeachable, no agenda, descended from Moses, the original messenger. "Pray much, children, for the world will end in your lifetime, preceded by an unmistakable and permanent sign, not of this earth, on Pdorbo Hill...", the children were told in their weekly, collective, trance, insensate to touch and speech, and immune to every trick tried by the skeptics (as detailed in "The Miracle Detective" (2002) by ex-atheist and ex-cop Randall Sullivan.) The kids were born ca. 1965. The Virgin's prophecy is right on track. Look around you: How many mass murders (3> dead) were there on Thanksgiving? 3 or 4, with one being an elderly aunt, a pregnant mother, and her sister, and her 6 yr old daughter (white, BTW). All killed by the sisters' brother, in murderous trashy Florida. Is that how America "gives thanks" these days? Jesus will "separate the wheat from the chaff, and throw it into the unquenchable fire." And "it were better for that man had he never been born." "What would Jesus do?" For you, perhaps, NOTHING. What have you done for Him?? Where's the reciprocity? Stop presuming on His benevolence, that's your wishful thinking. Look at the signs, read the prophecies, and adjust your behavior accordingly. "I saw the souls of the damned falling in to Hell like clumps of snow after a heavy snowfall... their bodies were transparent, and copper-colored, with fire inside each one. They hopped on all fours like bugs in the larger fire, their bodies lifted up by the flames, then falling back down like embers, where grotesquely-shaped creatures poked them back into the fire." - Lucia dos Santos, Oct. 18, 1917, with cousins Jacinto and Francisco, who each died within the following two years, as prophesied in that first apparition, and repeated to the kids' parents that evening. That was the second of several Fatima prophecies to come true, just as predicted by the 10-yr. old, illiterate, very religious Lucy. "I want you to learn to read and write," Lucy was told, "since you will remain on Earth a while longer to spread my message." Lucy was 10 then. She died in 2006, aged 98, in the convent in Coimbra, having been a nun since she was 14 or so. She is buried next to Jacinta and Francisco, by the altar in the huge church built at Fatima, as requested by the Virgin Mary on Oct. 18, 1917. Before her beatification, Jacinta was exhumed twice in 10 years to verify that her body was incorrupt, a sign of saintliness. the pictures show her, in her coffin, in the open grave, looking like she was taking a nap. Bernadette's incorrupt body is in a glass coffin at the altar in the convent where she died, in Nevers, of poor health, at age 35, in 1879... the same year the children at Pontmain were visited, while Fance was ravaged by the Franco-Prussian War. "I cannot make you happy in this world," the Virgin Mary told Bernadette on her first visit, "but I promise you great happiness in Heaven."/// Obiter dicta: a) none so blind as those who will not see, and b) let the devil take the hindmost.

• seagull (25) posts 10:30 am

  I'd be more than happy to see LoBiando out of office but I wouldn't want him replaced by a rightwinger. Gee, it's kind of a compliment to him that an idiot like Michelle Malkin dislikes him - she's a loon who is fact-challenged on every "issue" she attacks in her silly column. It's really interesting watching the rightwing Republicans attacking their own party members. After the debacle for them in upstate NY, you'd think they'd have learned a lesson. Yes, the moderate Republican dropped out of the race and she promptly threw her support to the Democrat who won the election because the braying of Sarah Palin and Rush "Limpbra" was enough to turn off the moderate Republican voters so that a seat that had been Republican for 100 years, went to the Democratic candidate. Nice move rightwing GOP -- make your party even more irrelevant than it already is.

• BayRat64 (56) posts 7:42 am

  ...and I suppose these so-called conservatives would prefer Jeff Van Drew as their congressman? I know I wouldn't. Republicans need to learn to be more flexible, because no candidate is going to perfectly fit all of our ideals.

• anotherjoe (83) posts 6:24 am

  (occopsridiots)--(())He is so boring vanilla.-- If you only knew what you are talking about!!! You are entitled to your own opinion I guess... So heres mine, Thank god for boring and vanilla. I am a life long democrat and i have voted for Frank 5 times out of 7. I like what he stands for in my district and that izz the way that he should continue to vote. Also for Jeff vandrew. Keep up the good work boys. Your doing just fine by me.

• occopsridiots (53) posts 4:30 am

  He is so boring vanilla. The Conservatives need to get rid of him and people like him,this is becoming a lifetime appointment and he is losing toucgh with the people he represents. Unfortunately they all do once they get in office,everything the vote do from day one is all about re-election and that's a shame. Van Drew is another example of a clown. This guy is so deep in Wachanucks SIC pocket the AFL CIO goon that it isn't funny. Van Drew came to my house when he first ran for local office ,he got elected never saw him again. Now he is moving up and up the ladder and more out of touch. Hey Van Goof remeber the Bridge in Upper,you were going to fix gas prices and many other things ,,did you ever follow through ? All you ever do is say the popluar at the moment issue act like you care and then move on to your next cause. My bet is his next issue will be Tiger Woods Escalades should escalades be allowed on city streets near fire hydrants. This guy is a PUTZ

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