Kennedy on Harrison Endorsements: ‘This is How we got Van Drew’
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Educator Amy Kennedy, who earlier this week opened an exploratory committee to examine a potential CD-2 Democartic candidacy, reacted to the news of Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) leading party organizations in support of the candidacy of Brigid Harrison.
“I’m disappointed they didn’t give me an opportunity,” said Kennedy.
“This is how they got Van Drew in the first place,” she added. “It’s certainly disappointing they have moved in this direction.”
She would not rule out a run despite the appearance of a strong head start for Harrison.
“I’m going to continue to weigh it over the holiday,” Kennedy said. “I do want to give people that option.”
Kennedy spoke as U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-2) stood with Republicans in the minority while Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted this evening in favor of impeaching President Donald J. Trump.
They approved Article 1 of the resolution, abuse of power.
They then prepared to vote on Article 2, obstruction of justice.
Still a Democrat tonight, Van Drew is expected to switch parties and run for reelection as a Republican.
Earlier this evening, Sweeney, president of the New Jersey Senate, joined six South Jersey Democratic county leaders in announcing their support for Harrison as the Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District.
“We are joining together in support of Brigid Harrison as the Democratic nominee for the 2nd District. Brigid will be a strong candidate and a very effective member of Congress who will fight for the Democratic principles and priorities that will best serve the needs of the Congressional District, South Jersey, the State of New Jersey and the country.
“We will give Brigid our full support to gain the party’s nomination and to win in a general election that is so important to the country’s future. We’re going to fight for Brigid because we know she will fight for South Jersey and for the people of the 2nd District.
I don’t know why they think Harrison is a strong enough candidate to make it worth trying to clear the field.
Could not agree more with Amy Kennedy on this.. Such early endorsements are not constructive. First, they are an insult to the intelligence of voters in those counties who have not seen even the slate of candidates much less heard their views on critical issues. Second, they lack credibility as these are the same folks that pushed the Van Drew nomination. Finally, they put pressure on other County Chairs to endorse their favorites. This pits county against county, does not work towards the cross-county unity that is needed to win in the 2nd district.
Such endorsements if they must come at all should come much later and reflect voter preferences then,
The class thing for Ms Harrison , who has written much on democracy to do would be to reject the endorsements and go out and earn them.