Speaking of Conservatives, Who Is More Conservative?
With months to go before the primary, a war of the faxes already has begun in the Fifth Congressional District race for the seat being vacated by Representative Marge Roukema, the 11-term lawmaker from Ridgewood. Sussex County Assemblyman Scott Garrett and Bergen County Senator Gerald Cardinale are battling over the right to call themselves the more conservative candidate. And while there is fire in the campaign battle, the creativity is somewhat lacking. A fax boldly titled ”Desperate Garrett Goes Negative Again” was answered by the opposition with its own fax, ”Desperate Cardinale Goes Negative Again” in slightly smaller type. ”Apparently, Garrett prescribes to the strategy of Bill Clinton and the liberal Democrats who believe in attack, attack, and distort,” said Mr. Cardinale’s campaign manager, Dan Quinonez. ”Scott Garrett should decide — does he stand with former President Reagan and President Bush or with the attack dog politics of Bill Clinton and the liberal Democrats?
