Sipprelle: Running Out The Clock

CD 12 candidate Scott Sipprelle is exhibiting a disturbing reluctance to answer tough questions and engage with his opponents. As we are about to enter the county convention/screening season where “the line” will be awarded for the June primary, Sipprelle is playing it safe. He is avoiding unscripted appearances and has performed poorly in the few Q & A’s that he has allowed.

Matt Rooney of Save Jersey and I invited Sipprelle and his prime opponent Mike Halfacre to participate in a debate shortly after Sipprelle entered the race in January. Both candidates agreed. At my behest we held off scheduling the debate when I heard that another candidate or two would enter the race. Last week we offered the candidates, including David Corsi, a choice of two dates. All accepted. Sipprelle, through his campaign consultant Chris Russell, canceled within 24 hours of accepting, citing a scheduling conflict. Sipprelle declined to reschedule until after the convention/screening season.

Sipprelle also declined a one on one interview with me. Last year Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan both used interviews on this blog and Save Jersey during the primary season to get their message out.

It is not just the blogs that Sipprelle is avoiding. Werner Graf, a Hopewell Valley Republican who ran for Assembly last year, attempted to put a debate together with the participation of the League of Women Voters. Sipprelle is unavailable for the entire month of March. Halfacre and Corsi were willing to adjust their schedules to participate in March.

Sipprelle employed the same delaying then canceling tactics with the Tea Party groups, who threw their support to Halfacre in part out of their frustration with getting Sipprelle to talk to them.

Sipprelle is clearly employing a “running out the clock” strategy for the convention/screening season. He’s avoiding potential gaffes or embarrassing moments, counting on the fact that his money will win him the party lines and the built in edge that comes with those ballot positions in a primary.

Maybe this will prove to be a winning strategy and an example of Sipprelle’s political prowess. Maybe not. Sipprelle’s money is huge advantage. But is it enough? Do Republicans really know who the guy is and how he will perform on the campaign trail? Is he quick on his feet and personable? Are his positions his own or those of a consultant? Can he take a rhetorical punch? If he is afraid to be grilled by Matt Rooney, Art Gallagher, or the League of Women Voters, how will he handle Rush Holt?

It seems to me that Sipprelle could “knock out” Halfacre with a respectable showing in a debate or even a tough interview. Yet a confident Halfacre is still standing and seems to be holding most of his support.

If Halfacre had Sipprelle’s money would Sipprelle even be in this race? If I were part of the Halfacre camp, which I am not, I would be looking to raise enough money before the conventions start to knock Sipprelle out. Because it seems to me that all Sipprelle has going for him is money. Money is important, but it is not going to be enough to beat Rush Holt.