Adler: Jon Runyan Could Buy Election

New Jersey congressman John Adler told Fox 29 on Monday morning Jon Runyan "is willing to write a big check to help buy an election," but later backed off that claim.

Runyan has publicly said he may run as a Republican candidate against Adler, who is a Democrat and the incumbent in the New Jersey 3rd congressional district.

“I know Jon, he’s a good guy,” Adler said.

But Adler was blunt about the prospect of Runyan outspending him in an election.

“It is always worrisome when someone has a lot of money and is willing to write a big check to help buy an election,” Adler said.

When asked by Mike Jerrick if Runyan would buy the election, Adler denied meaning that.

“Not buying. He could spend a lot of money. That would be a factor with elections,” he said.

Adler went as far as to compare Runyan to ousted Democratic governor Jon Corzine.

“We’ve seen that in New Jersey in the past, Jon Corzine did it a couple of times.”

In a statement issued last Wednesday by the Burlington County Republican Committee, Runyan says he believes the country is being taken in the wrong direction by “career politicians.”
Runyan played 13 seasons in the NFL, the last nine with the Birds. The 35-year-old is out of football this season, though he's talked to the Eagles and other teams about coming back.

Adler won election last year and followed Republican Jim Saxton, who retired after more than two decades in office.