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S.J. Democrats focus on Norcross, less on Belgard

WASHINGTON - To Democrats in Washington, one congressional race in South Jersey is among the most important in the country, a rare chance to gain ground in an otherwise dire year for their party.

State Sen. Donald Norcross (left) addresses supportes at Camden County Democratic party headquarters in Cherry Hill on primary election day June 3, 2014. Norcross is running against Frank Minor and Frank Broomell for the seat left vacant by Rob Andrews in the 1st Congressional District. Republicans on the ballot are Garry Cobb, Claire Gustafson, Lee Lucas and Gerard McManus. ( TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer )
State Sen. Donald Norcross (left) addresses supportes at Camden County Democratic party headquarters in Cherry Hill on primary election day June 3, 2014. Norcross is running against Frank Minor and Frank Broomell for the seat left vacant by Rob Andrews in the 1st Congressional District. Republicans on the ballot are Garry Cobb, Claire Gustafson, Lee Lucas and Gerard McManus. ( TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer )Read more

WASHINGTON - To Democrats in Washington, one congressional race in South Jersey is among the most important in the country, a rare chance to gain ground in an otherwise dire year for their party.

They have poured money and manpower into helping Aimee Belgard try to beat Republican Tom MacArthur in the contest for an open and competitive district covering much of Burlington and Ocean Counties - the seat Rep. Jon Runyan is giving up. If Democrats ever hope to retake the House and advance their national agenda, the district could be crucial.

But South Jersey's leading Democrats - perhaps the most ruthlessly effective bloc in the state's politics - have focused their might on another House race: that of State Sen. Donald Norcross in a safely Democratic district next door, in Camden County.

"Don's done a lot for a lot of people for a long time, so there's a lot of people that want to help him," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney, the public face of South Jersey's political power and the top Democrat in state government.

South Jersey's work to back one of its own illustrates the general disregard for congressional politics among New Jersey insiders.

In the Garden State's back rooms, who walks the marbled halls of the Capitol is a second-tier consideration at best. Real political currency comes from local, county, and state offices that can influence contracts, jobs, and pet projects.

"If you understand how New Jersey works, there's no surprise," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "Members of Congress don't give out jobs."

When New Jersey power players do get involved in House races, it's usually because of a personal tie.

Which helps explain why the South Jersey Democratic organization, which has built its influence by winning state and local races on hostile terrain, including in Burlington County, is working first and foremost to hold a seat that the party will almost certainly win anyway.

Consider: Norcross, a legislator and longtime labor leader who is a brother of South Jersey political power George E. Norcross III, is running against Republican Garry Cobb, a former Eagles linebacker and radio personality, and first-time candidate.

They are competing in a district President Obama won by 32 points in 2012, where Norcross had a 45-1 cash advantage as of June 30, the latest reporting date, and where Democrats hold a nearly 129,000-person edge in voter registration. (The longtime incumbent, Democrat Robert E. Andrews, resigned in February.)

Belgard is trying to win a district that the GOP has historically dominated, but that Obama squeaked out in 2012.

Still, top South Jersey operatives are shopping opposition research on Cobb as they hope to ensure that Norcross doesn't just win, but registers a landslide that scares off any future challengers.

Norcross had raised more money than Belgard as of the last reports, despite her national backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Emily's List, a powerful group that supports Democratic women.

Part of Norcross' edge is due to a quirk in timing that allows him to tap top donors this year for twice the usual limit: He's running to complete Andrews' term and for a full two-year term of his own.

Belgard would seem to need the money more. She faces an opponent who has put $3 million of his own money into the race. Cobb, Norcross' opponent, had raised $34,245.

South Jersey Democrats showed they could win the more competitive Burlington and Ocean-based Third District in 2008, when they went all-in for another of their own, the late John Adler.

He became the only Democrat in modern history to win the seat, helping produce the House majority that enabled his party to pass the Affordable Care Act (though he voted against it).

Republicans, though, won back the seat and the House in 2010, and have stymied Obama and Democrats ever since.

Donald Norcross boasts personal ties to South Jersey Democrats that run even deeper than Adler's. His brother is patriarch of the local organization.

Sweeney is a childhood friend who said a phone call from Donald Norcross pushed him to make his first run for office, as a Gloucester County freeholder.

A former president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Donald Norcross for two decades has rallied labor to help fellow Democrats, his allies explain. They want to repay him.

"I don't think there's less excitement" for Belgard, Sweeney said. "I just think there's a lot of people who want to give back, including me," to Norcross.

Sweeney and other Democrats said there is still enthusiasm and support for Belgard, including advice, on-the-ground manpower and donations. Sweeney's fellow ironworkers and other labor groups donated the maximum allowed to her campaign.

But six other South Jersey Democrats said in interviews that local party operatives are putting Norcross first, even as they praised Belgard. They asked for anonymity to discuss internal party thinking.

"George takes nothing for granted," one longtime party operative said of George Norcross.

Several questioned whether the Belgard-MacArthur race was as winnable for the Democrats as recent polls indicate - and in any case, the party would still be far short of a House majority.

Many said Belgard has ample DCCC support: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi held a fund-raiser for her this year, as have other leaders from Washington.

Belgard's campaign dismissed suggestions that she could be left short of local energy.

"Democrats from all over South Jersey are united behind Aimee Belgard," said her spokeswoman, Hannah Ledford.

Other Democrats said recent polling showing a tight race may encourage more involvement from the South Jersey organization in the home stretch, and help overcome lingering doubts from GOP triumphs in the district in 2010 and 2012.

Michael Muller, a veteran South Jersey Democratic operative, has taken an increased role in aiding Belgard's run, offering ties to the local party apparatus.

The next time Pelosi comes to South Jersey, though, it will be to help Donald Norcross, at a $1,000-per-person fund-raiser Oct. 15. George Norcross blasted out an e-mail trumpeting the event last week.