HAMILTON TWP. – Democrats have made T- shirts that speak of the coming “ROEvember” election, an obvious sign of what they want the midterms to be about.

That seems puzzling to Bob Healey, the Republican seeking to oust Andy Kim in newly-drawn CD-3 ranging over parts of Burlington, Mercer and Monmouth counties.

Healey says that when he troops door-to-door to chat with voters, they usually have three things on their minds.

They are the price of gas, groceries and everything else, safety, which he said is usually punctuated by a story of a break-in down the block and, “Do you know what they’re teaching my kids in school.”

It’s possible, if not likely, that Healey and the Dems may be talking to, or aiming their appeal, at different people. But in many ways, this is the looming story of the midterm election. Just what are the key issues? Inflation and crime on one hand, or abortion and women’s rights on the other?

Healey made his comments Wednesday night at the local VFW Hall, or actually, outside of it. It was a busy night. The bar in the hall was crowded and a spirited game of horseshoes ensued outside. Healey and his 50 or so supporters were in a tent on the property for a Columbus Day celebration complete with Italian cuisine and accompanying music.

The township is new to the district. Like some of its neighboring towns in Mercer County, Hamilton long was represented by Republican Chris Smith. But when Democrats won the redistricting battle last December, Smith was moved out of Hamilton and Kim’s CD-3 became more Democratic. The Dems’ voter registration advantage is now about 62,000.

Healey is undaunted. He says many people in the district – Hamilton included – don’t always vote the same way every election. He pointed out that last year’s gubernatorial race in Hamilton was basically a 49-49 split between Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli. In 2020, Joe Biden won the township by about 5,000, but turnout that year was unusually large.

When he took the microphone, Healey praised Smith for serving the district well. Healey, whose family is in the yacht business, said he is deeply committed to following in Smith’s footsteps. Come January, Smith, of course, likely will still be in Congress, representing a new district.

Healey criticized Kim for supporting a radicalized school curriculum, including when it comes to sexuality. This is a standard Republican talking point these days, although Congress has little direct control over local schools.

Healey said that doesn’t matter. He said it’s important for congressmen to speak out when parents fear that “something unreasonable” is happening in schools.

Healey also brought up what he said was Kim’s suggestion to cut the defense budget, which is now about $740 billion, by 10 percent.

While that is an enormous number, Healey had a local concern in mind. He wondered what any defense cuts would mean to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which is one of the more important facilities in the district. Military installations in New Jersey are often threatened with closure.