Stein after the election, with good friend "Dadio"

Voters return LoBiondo to Congress despite frustration with status quo   
Written by SHAUN SMITH  
Tuesday, 09 November 2010

Stein cites institutional bias in loss

MAYS LANDING – Leading up to winning his ninth consecutive term Tuesday, Nov. 2, U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo said he felt frustration everywhere he went on the campaign trail.

 
“The level of anger and frustration was much higher; it was off the chart. I couldn’t go anywhere that I didn’t bump into someone unemployed,” LoBiondo said Wednesday, Nov. 3. “They felt the federal government hit them with a two-by-four with one policy or another.”

According to unofficial results from the Atlantic County superintendent of elections, the Republican congressman representing New Jersey’s 2nd District received 36,703 votes, or 62.91 percent of the total. His closest challenger, Democrat Gary Stein, who ran without his party’s endorsement, received 19,869 votes, or 34.06 percent.

“It was a humbling experience – understanding the terrible problems the nation finds itself in the middle of and how people are very frustrated, very angry and many people in our district are hurting badly,” said LoBiondo. “Given another opportunity to work on their behalf is a humbling experience.”

The congressman from Ventnor said he will focus on jobs and the economy while representing South Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I always generally do the best I can to bring the best South Jersey representation to Washington,” LoBiondo said.

He said his constituents want Congress “to stop spending our children and grandchildren’s money, and we don’t want to borrow money from China.”

He expressed his thanks to everyone who showed their support, faith and trust in voting him to another term.

Stein, of Mullica Township, has previously made runs for governor and Congress but said this may be his last run. His campaign received no endorsement from the Atlantic County Democratic Party and raised little money, and he even had to sell one of his cars to pay for campaign expenses.

He said he was naive in thinking he could have reached more voters given his low-budget campaign.

“In hindsight now, it went the way you’d expect it to go. As much as I follow politics, my naiveté was of people responding to a guy not spending any money trying to raise a message as a former Republican. I thought people would stumble upon it themselves,” Stein said Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Although it was not the outcome he would have liked, Stein said, he did manage to take some votes from LoBiondo and cut into his percentage win.

“He probably would have gotten in the 70s if no one challenged him,” Stein said. “These politicians need a challenger and the Democrats didn’t put anyone up, so it accomplished something.”

The candidate said that as a lesser-known candidate with little in the way of funding, it was an uphill battle trying to get his message to voters.

“I think it’s an institutional bias. The newspapers – I’m not talking about The Current, but the Courier Post and the Atlantic City Press – whether they know it or not, they’re going with the winners and there are reasons they do it, economic reasons, and there is a reluctance to acknowledge that an average working class guy like myself could challenge LoBiondo,” Stein said.

He said non-main-party candidates who run against the political machine, such as his congressional opponents Linda Biamonte and Peter Boyce and “a few characters who ran for governor,” are at a big disadvantage.

“People don’t realize how much time it takes to run, and they’re (candidates) not always quoted accurately; they’re not treated seriously considering the effort. There has to be a helping hand from the voters, and the newspapers and the TV stations. They (T.V.) don’t even get involved anymore, they’re out of it. … I was never even contacted by Channel 40 (NBC TV).”

Stein thanked those who voted for him, saying he believes some Republicans crossed party lines to vote for him. He said Atlantic County voters came out for him more than those in other counties.

Stein said perhaps if the Atlantic County Democrats had taken a chance and supported him, he could have carried more victories for the Democratic Party in countywide races this election.

“I wish Mr. LoBiondo well,” he said. “It is impressive the margins he wins by.”
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                     Good friend "Dadio" or "Donnnnie" after the election w/Stein
                     replacing brake lines on 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Sedan

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More letters, Nov. 23, 2010 (Press of A.C.)

What if a candidate

refused to spend money?

Regarding political ad campaigns, there is a point that appears to be so obvious. Yet not only have the politicians missed it, but I've never heard it mentioned by any news commentator, political pundit, column writer, late-night talk-show host or, for that matter, the American public.

Let a candidate come forth in front of voters and state the following: "I have put my credentials and platform out there for the public. I stand on my own merit. I will run no political ads whatsoever. I will not promote myself, protect myself or attack my opponent in any way. All of the money that was earmarked for such spending will be donated to a charitable institution for those in need during this difficult period of our economy."

Not only would I vote for this individual, but this approach would get him or her more publicity and press coverage than money could buy. And in parting, how about we get all of those politicians who are older than Methuselah out of Washington? Let's get some term limits going. Washington is not the Vatican. We need some young intelligent, moral people in Congress.

FRANCES SIRIANNI

Little Egg Harbor Township

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Gary Stein8:38 am facebook

Beat you to the punch. Frances writes, "Let a candidate come forth in front of voters and state the following: "I have put my credentials and platform out there for the public. I stand on my own merit. I will run no political ads whatsoever. I will not promote myself, protect myself or attack my opponent in any way. All of the money that was earmarked for such spending will be donated to a charitable institution for those in need during this difficult period of our economy."

Not only would I vote for this individual...." Frances, I like the part about donating to charity. I think I said the same thing last week? A throw away page- hidden on my web site explains..
http://www.theessentialsteinforcongress2010.com/New_Political_Party__the.html
A.C. Press, you have the letter writers address and phone. Why didn't you call them, ask if they knew about the Dem. running against LoBiondo?