Runyan kicks off his campaign

Declaring his campaign kickoff "an awesome night, a longly anticipated one," former Eagles offensive lineman Jon Runyan promised to rein in government spending and cut taxes if elected to Congress in one of the nation's most competitive races.

Before a crowd of almost 400 loyal Republicans gathered at the Westin Hotel in Mount Laurel, he said he would be a "common sense conservative" who would bring to Washington the strong work ethic he showed on the football field and which he learned from his autoworker father.

Runyan, 36, has organizational Republican support in the Third District, which runs through Burlington and Ocean Counties and includes Cherry Hill in Camden County, making him the front-runner in the race to face freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D., N.J.) in the fall.

Democrats have characterized Runyan as ill-prepared to run for Congress, and he gave his answer to them tonight.

"Whoever said you needed to be a lifetime politician to be a congressman?" he said to laughter. "I really believe I'm qualified because I care."

Signaling the attacks voters are likely to hear on the campaign trail, Runyan said he would "expose John Adler for his failed record in Trenton and make him accountable for it."

Adler was a state senator between 1992 and 2008, when he won the open congressional seat in the traditionally Republican district.

Adler's campaign said he was an independent while in the statehouse, sometimes breaking ranks with the Democrats.

"As John Adler is trying to run as a moderate – look at his voting record. His first vote as a congressman was to elect Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house," Runyan said in a speech that lasted less than 20 minutes.

Adler's spokeswoman Kathryn Prael said "he has always been independent." She noted that in Congress he has voted with his party 84 percent of the time.

Along with other freshman Democrats facing tough races, he voted against an earlier version of the health care overhaul now pending in Washington. Tonight, Adler announced he would stick to his "no" vote.

Adler was swept into Congress in 2008 partly on the coattails of President Obama and hasn't left the campaign trail. He has held dozens of town hall meetings traversing the district which runs from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean.

The district returned to its Republican roots last year when it chose Republican Gov. Christie over former Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine. The changing nature of the district has many analysts watching the race as one of the more volatile in the country. Republicans are expected to gain ground in both the House and Senate this year.

But Democrats are fighting back. Democratic State Committee Chairman John Wisniewski issued a statement yesterday saying Runyan has ducked the press while garnering the support of "party bosses and taking advantage of thousands of dollars in tax breaks meant for hardworking farmers."

Democrats plan to attack Runyan as someone who lacks political experience and government knowledge. And, they want to raise the issue of Runyan's farmland assessment.

Runyan has a lavish home on 25 acres in Mount Laurel. Twenty of those acres are exempted from paying full property taxes because he uses them as timberland and for grazing four donkeys, under the state's farmland assessment program.

Though he has official GOP support, Runyan is not alone in the June 8 primary. Joseph Rullo, an alternative energy consultant from Toms River, and former Tabernacle Township Committeeman Justin Murphy, now of Medford, have said they are running. Murphy ran in the 2008 Republican primary for this seat, coming in a strong third.

So far, Runyan has not reported how much is in his campaign account but said he would fill it by holding fund-raising events and with some of his own money, if necessary.

Adler has raised $1.4 million so far.

Born in Flint, Mich., Runyan won a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, becoming the first person in his family to attend college. He started his football career playing for the Houston Oilers, now known as the Tennessee Titans, and joined the Eagles in 2000. He played for them until he was sidelined with an injury in 2008. He finished his career earlier this year as a San Diego Charger. Runyan met his wife, Loretta, a former Houston police officer, while he was playing for the Oilers. They have three children.