Jim Saxton

Former Mt. Holly Mayor James B. Smith, who ran for Congress against Republican Jim Saxton three times, passed way of an apparent heart attack early this morning. Smith was Saxton's opponent in 1984 when the death of seven-term Republican Edwin Forsythe opened up the Burlington/Ocean/Camden House seat.  He defeated former State Sen. Herbert Buehler and two others in the Democratic primary, but lost to Saxton, then a two-term State Senator, by a 61%-38% margin.  Smith won 31% against Saxton in the 1988 and 1994 elections. Funeral services will be held later this week. 

The 3rd district congressional race between Democrat John Adler and Republican Christopher Myers is a statistical dead heat, according to a Zogby International poll conducted by The Press of Atlantic City and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.  More than 16% of the voters poll remain undecided, with each candidate at 39%.   Adler, a State Senator from Camden County, and Myers, the Mayor of Medford, are seeking the seat of Republican Jim Saxton, who is retiring after 24 years in the House.  Republicans have held this seat since 1884.

Third district voters are also split on races for President and U.S. Senate: Barack Obama, 45%, John McCain, 44%; and Dick Zimmer, 45%, Frank Lautenberg 44%.