Friday, April 30, 2010

CD 6

Russell Cote, the Monmouth County Conservative Examiner sums up the state of race between Diane Gooch and Anna Little very well:

A somewhat stark contrast has developed between the two Republican challengers vying for the opportunity to unseat the dreadful Frank Pallone in the 6th District. Ms. Gooch, well-funded but politically untested, is the top-line Republican nominee in both Monmouth and Middlesex Counties while Mayor Little, grassroots-fueled and a four-time election winner, has relied thus far on an expanding conservative volunteer base and endorsements from smaller but more principled organizations than the county selection committees.

It has been relatively difficult thus far to pin down Ms. Gooch on policy matters as her website is incomplete and her participation in conservative forums has been limited. By contrast, Mayor Little is unabashed in her Conservatism and she expresses such publicly with an aura of increasing confidence and expertise. With just a little over a month to go before the primary, it remains to be seen whether Mayor Little can harness the anger and frustration of 6th district voters securely enough to overcome Ms. Gooch's quarter-million cash on hand and top-line status.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anna is the much better candidate aside from the money.
She relates better to the "little people" (pun intended) and has well thought out positions.
however if she wants to win she needs to ramp up her campaign and take on Gooch head to head.

Come on Anna get agressive.

Anonymous said...

anna is a joke

inside man said...

Here is how you win a political support in Monmouth county.
You go to the municipal chairman and tell them you will match dollar for dollar whatever they raise for your local election.

I can only imagine what the elected officials get promised

Anonymous said...

I heard Gooch speak twice and it was unimpressive to say the least. Lack of articulation, lack of understanding of the political issues, no real experience and I sensed a real unprofessionalism about her that made me switch to supporting Little. Gooch is sadly being supported because of the money advantage and thats a shame.

Anonymous said...

brian nelson and peter carton probably got promised contracts - real shocker, by the way their press release is misleading, middletown gop did not get the unanimous support of the township committee i doubt mr byrnes is supporting her.

Anonymous said...

I heard a story that gooch was challenged as to her qualifications by someone in a diner and she said i could be in Europe right now and im here trying to help you people.

in all fairness I did not hear it myself but if its true that is pretty bad.

Anonymous said...

You guys aren't drinking tea, you're drinking koolaid. Diane Gooch spent virtually no money and beat Anna Little in every head-to-head contest -- on the strength of her presentation. She now has all four county lines. She DOES have a website up (www.dianegoochforcongress.com) and it spells out her positions on every issue. I have personally seen her at events in Sayreville, Old Bridge, Middletown and Edison -- Diane is working the district, relates to everyone, and is the true grass roots candidate.

Anonymous said...

Um, Sean Byrnes is a Democrat.

www.middletowndemocrat.org

Don't let facts get in the way of a good story.

Anonymous said...

Anna and her husband in tow go to event from event--not really sure though what she stands for. She's a lot of talk and has ticked a lot of people off in Highlands and the County but keep talking her up as the hope of the future--she's a professional speech maker who sorely needs a bigger job that pays more money. At least we know Gooch isn't running for the job and a pension.

Anonymous said...

You know - her husband is not running for Congress..... Gooch is running because she has a bundle of money. A big bundle and I think it is unfair that the GOP encouraged her to run in the 6th Congressional District where she doesn't even live. Anna LIttle is the better candidate and we all know that. Anna Little is not running for a job and a pension.... she is runnng because we all know and she knows she can beat Pallone and Gooch cannot even with all her money$$$$$$$$

Michael Illions said...

Diane Gooch spent virtually no money and beat Anna Little in every head-to-head contest -- on the strength of her presentation.

Strength of her presentation?? She can't even put two sentences together. She won because she has a large checkbook and the sell-outs like Sham Thompson had dollar signs in their eyes and couldn't care less that she doesn't live in the District or where she stands on ANY position. Her husband could have given money to Frank Pallone and it wouldn't matter... OH WAIT!!

Anonymous said...

I did not see her position on abortion or same sex marriage.

Anonymous said...

Abortion and same-sex marriage is a moral- personal matter and does not belong in politics, nor is it any candidate business how taxpayers live & handle their personal matters and lives...

Anonymous said...

abortion and same sex marriage issues DO belong in the political sphere.

Why should taxpayers pay for abortions if they are morally opposed?

Why should taxpayers pick up the cost of illnesses a "gay" lifestyle can cause?

Anonymous said...

I like Anna, but her $1400 bank account won't even cover the interest on Pallone's $3.5 million war chest. That is reality.

Anonymous said...

I care very much about the make up and personal beliefs of my politicans.
They want my support and money....I want to know about their character and what makes them tick.

Anonymous said...

Enough already Art. Gooch has worked harder than you will ever report here. It's about getting rid of Pallone, and Gooch is capable of doing that. Anna had a chance to show she could earn money and form a campaign and all she's managed to do is muster up a few thousand dollars and a handful of people.

Art Gallagher said...

Enough already Art. Gooch has worked harder than you will ever report here.

What are you talking about? I done very little reporting on this race, or any thing else for that matter in the last week or so. I've been otherwise engaged. Also, this is a tough race for me to "report on," given my conflicts as I have previously disclosed.

The Little campaign has given this blog access to the candidate. They get their announcements, which there have not been many of published.

The Gooch campaign has not given the blog access to the candidate, nor has it bought an ad. Their press releases and announcements don't get published. They've been a lot nicer about it than the Sipprelle camp was.

Hopefully I'll be able to do more "reporting" on the race as primary day gets closer.

Anonymous said...

Little's campaign gave you access because they knew you'd be friendly. Why would Gooch subject herself to being interviewed by someone who blatently admits a bias???

I don't understand why we can't just focus on getting rid of the Congressmen. Halfacre (I was a HUGE Halfacre supporter for a long time) did what was best for the party, and I respect him so very much for it. Little is stirring the pot for the sake of self promotion and you're helping her do it.

Art Gallagher said...

Little's campaign gave you access because they knew you'd be friendly.

Not so. I didn't do the Little interview because I know her too well. I offered the Gooch campaign an interview with Grace. Grace make the offer directly to Gooch. We were turned down.


Why would Gooch subject herself to being interviewed by someone who blatently admits a bias???

She was never asked to and wouldn't have been.

Using the Halfacre interview as an example....Mike and I are friends but we haven't been in the trenches together like Little and I have been. I didn't know the answers to most of the questions I asked him before I asked them.

To his credit, Mike knew the interview would be tough going in.

My purpose was not to help my friend, but to vette the candidates. My interview with Halfacre was honest and fair. The Sipprelle campaign used parts of it against Mike.

I don't have a problem with Gooch's decision not to do an interview. They have been straight with about it.

I don't understand why we can't just focus on getting rid of the Congressmen.

That would be good. I believe Sipprelle has a chance to defeat Holt. I don't believe that Gooch has a chance to beat Pallone.

Little is stirring the pot for the sake of self promotion and you're helping her do it.

I don't believe that Little is stirring the pot for the sake of self promotion. I am not active in her campaign, however, in my opinion, if she pulls off a miracle and wins the primary, we will have a better chance of defeating Pallone.

Anonymous said...

It is often a difficult choice for a County Chairman to make as to whom to pick when the Chairman in his silent heart believes no one has a shot.So when faced with that choice they look for money as the answer.Gooch will bring much money to both Monmouth and Middlesex.It is sorely needed.It remains to be seen what type of campaigner Gooch is.To those of use who have served in office we know what its like to have your brains bashed daily in some front page Drudge report in the news.Lets hope Gooch has the right stuff.Lastly her strategy of campaigning in Highlands is stupidity personified.This is rubbing dirt in the nose of Little.Shows me her campaign is inept and poorly directed.If she had all that momentum why not leave Highlands alone until after the primary?Joe and Sam you wished for her and you got what you wished for.

Anonymous said...

Based on Gooch's presentation style ? You are obviously biased and heard something that other didnt hear ?? Again, Gooch's presentation style is lacking, she has poor articulation, comes across as having a weak understanding of the political issues, seems unprofessional,and lacks a formal education. On a positive note, Im sure she is a very nice person and has a good heart but on the podium during a speech, its a train wreck. Gooch's checkbook is running against Little in this race and everyone in the GOP knows that they are using her money to unseat Pallone.