IN PRINT: Dirty Jersey Politics

Even before the events of this past week, the U.S. Congressional race between Democratic incumbent John Adler and Republican challenger Jon Runyan wasn't lacking for a compelling storyline.Adler is a fast-talking lawyer trying to hold on to his seat in South Jersey's right-leaning Third District; Runyan, the man seeking to unseat him, was until recently a Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle (who held the dubious distinction of being ranked as one of the NFL's dirtiest players).But over the past few days Adler, not Runyan, has taken heat for his allegedly unsporting behavior.  Last Friday, the Cherry Hill Courier-Post charged that operatives tied to Adler recruited a bogus "New Jersey Tea Party" candidate to appear on the ballot and siphon away votes from Runyan. Adler denied the allegations; Runyan went on the attack.It all came to a head last night at the Cherry Hill Jewish Community Center, where the candidates debated for the first time since the Courier-Post story broke.  Read what happened in the New York Times.(photo: Master Sgt. Dwayne Gordon, Wikimedia Commons)