Claiming to be Saxton's heir

With the gates of Fort Dix in the background, a Republican congressional primary candidate stood in yesterday's cold winds alongside a Pennsylvania congressman to encourage Democrats to list a homeland security bill for a vote.

But there was another message that will be a running theme in the increasingly competitive race for the Third District seat, which includes portions of Burlington and Ocean Counties. GOP candidate Chris Myers was trying to show voters that he's ready for Washington and is the rightful heir to retiring U.S. Rep. James Saxton (R., N.J.).

That's partly why U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R., Pa.) held a news conference with Myers and partly why the likely Democratic candidate, state Sen. John Adler (D., Camden), has been making appearances with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) and U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) in recent weeks.

They are seeking to authenticate their candidacies for voters in the district and for donors around the country.

American politics expert Lawrence Butler, chairman of Rowan University's political science department, said Myers was "running as Saxton's chosen candidate." Appearing with a sitting congressman and speaking on homeland security was to "show he's already got clout and say, 'Send me to Congress. I already know people there. I can get things done. Yes, we're losing a lot of seniority with Saxton, and I'm the next best thing.' "

When Allentown's Dent was asked if he endorsed Myers, he said, "I know Congressman Jim Saxton supports him. I am pleased to support Chris Myers."

Dent, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, was with Myers to encourage Democratic congressional leaders to list for voting the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which would grant immunity to telecommunications companies that help federal agents eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists without a warrant.

Myers noted that besides Saxton's blessing, he also has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R., N.J.). He said he wanted voters to see "who's best to serve in the interest of this district."

GOP primary candidate Jack Kelly, an Ocean County freeholder, said he won't be deploying the strategy of bringing in others to validate his candidacy.

"I will work with other people to get their opinions but I'm not going to have other people speaking for me," Kelly said. "There's no doubt that Jim Saxton is interfering in a primary. . . . If that's the kind of campaign they want to run, that's fine. Jim Saxton ought to let the voters of this district decide who their candidate should be and he [Saxton] shouldn't be interfering in the process."

Jeff Sagnip Hollendonner, an aide to Saxton who also is working for the Myers' campaign during his off hours, said, "It's not really interference. It's Congressman Saxton's almost 25 years of serving the congressional district that makes him the best authority to judge the needs of the congressional district."

For Adler, trips from national Democrats, especially those from Van Hollen, the party's campaign committee chairman, are "mostly about getting the race targeted for financial contributors around the country," said Rowan's Butler.

Raiyan Syed, Adler's campaign manager, noted that besides congressional visits, his candidate took the Sierra Club endorsement, which "illustrates that this is a high-profile, significant race."