'I Have No Experience Raising Taxes Over and Over'

Sometimes a lack of political experience helps. In this case the neophyte happens to be a well-known athlete, former Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jon Runyan, who last night won the GOP primary in South Jersey and will take on Democrat incumbent Jon Adler in November. With Runyan appearing with Governor Chris Christie last night, this was a rare case when Christie wasn't the largest presence in the room. Don't tell me we never bring you the big beefcake, ladies.

Primary night was far from over, but Gov. Chris Christie tonight shifted the congressional battle lines to the November general election, taking shots the Republicans top target: U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-3rd District).

Christie showed up at former Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jon Runyan’s campaign headquarters in Mount Laurel and called Adler a "career politician" who "knows how to con the people of the state of New Jersey."

Runyan defeated Justin Murphy, a former Tabernacle Committeeman who ran as the tea party candidate.

“We cannot take anything for granted," Christie said. "We have to start working tomorrow. We have to start knocking on doors, starting to bring everybody together again, making sure that those tonight who voted for Justin Murphy in our primary, that we reach out to them and say it is time to get rid of John Adler and let’s get together behind our nominee, Jon Runyan.”

Runyan current;y has about a tenth of the money on hand the wealthy Democrat Adler has, but a few appearances with Christie ought to help that. Adler, for his part, seems to think Runyan likes oil spills or something.

"I’m very, very surprised that he, unlike most New Jersey residents, he seems to favor off-shore drilling off the coast of New Jersey," Adler said. "We see the devastation that is being visited upon the people on the Gulf of Mexico."

Actually, New Jersey residents supported offshore drilling in huge numbers two years ago, as well as building nuclear power plants and drilling in ANWR, none of which Democrats support.

New Jerseyans say gasoline prices is the economic issue that worries them the most, and by a 64%-34% margin, state voters support offshore oil drilling, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. New Jersey voters also support new nuclear power plants (61%-32%) and drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuse (53%-41%).

The more Obama's mess in the Gulf goes on, however, that's sure to change, but even last month public support was still there for offshore drilling nationally. Shamelessly, Adler also started playing the wealth card against Runyan even though he has far more money on hand for the general election.

"The last thing we need in Washington is another wealthy extremist trying to buy an election and continuing to ignore the struggles middle-class families and seniors face in these challenging times," said Adler campaign manager Geoff Mackler.

Another wealthy extremist? Uh, we got rid of that Democrat Corzine last fall, John.

Runyan enters the general election campaign with a large financial disadvantage, just $225,815 raised -- $100,000 from his own pocket -- and $134,692 cash on hand.

Adler, who began fundraising shortly after taking office in January 2009, has raised more than $2.2 million and has $1.8 million cash on hand to date.

Here's a recent Runyan ad linking Adler with Corzine and his boss, Nancy Pelosi. Considering the GOP held this seat for a century until 2008, it's a great opportunity for a pickup this fall.