Spring Break
Alum loses first political race
by Michelle Liberman
Staff writer
News | 11/11/08
Posted online at 2:55 AM EST on 11/11/08
Brandeis alumnus Dennis Shulman '72, whose unusual story drew national media attention and the endorsement of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, lost to Republican three-term incumbent Scott Garrett after a long campaign to represent New Jersey's fifth congressional district.
Shulman, a blind clinical psychologist and rabbi, obtained 42 percent of the votes in the district after a campaign that lasted 14 months. In August, Shulman told the Justice that he had no background in politics, but decided to run because he "was so outraged about what [he] saw going on in this country," with the energy and economic crises.
He decided to run for office against Garrett, who Shulman said was "so far out of touch with the mainstream and American society" and who voted against stem cell research, aid for Hurricane Katrina victims and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"We did not win the election, but we're right [on the issues]," Shulman said at his concession speech in Paramus, N.J. on election night. In his speech, Shulman called for bringing home troops from Iraq, developing an energy policy by investing in alternative oil and gas and taking global warming seriously, and combating corruption that has prevailed in Washington.
Jeff Hauser, Shulman's campaign manager, said in a phone interview with the Justice, "We were obviously disappointed by the outcome. It was a tough district to generate momentum." The campaign was not able to get enough resources to win the race. Shulman raised about $940,000 for his campaign, while his opponent, raised almost $1,350,000, according to Opensecrets.org, showing Shulman's economic disadvantage in the race.
Hauser said the media coverage the campaign received did not catch the attention of people in the district who live in what Shulman, in August, called the "New York media market." Voters know more about New York city politics, including details about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's life, than about the representatives in their own towns, Shulman explained.
Shulman, a blind clinical psychologist and rabbi, obtained 42 percent of the votes in the district after a campaign that lasted 14 months. In August, Shulman told the Justice that he had no background in politics, but decided to run because he "was so outraged about what [he] saw going on in this country," with the energy and economic crises.
He decided to run for office against Garrett, who Shulman said was "so far out of touch with the mainstream and American society" and who voted against stem cell research, aid for Hurricane Katrina victims and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"We did not win the election, but we're right [on the issues]," Shulman said at his concession speech in Paramus, N.J. on election night. In his speech, Shulman called for bringing home troops from Iraq, developing an energy policy by investing in alternative oil and gas and taking global warming seriously, and combating corruption that has prevailed in Washington.
Jeff Hauser, Shulman's campaign manager, said in a phone interview with the Justice, "We were obviously disappointed by the outcome. It was a tough district to generate momentum." The campaign was not able to get enough resources to win the race. Shulman raised about $940,000 for his campaign, while his opponent, raised almost $1,350,000, according to Opensecrets.org, showing Shulman's economic disadvantage in the race.
Hauser said the media coverage the campaign received did not catch the attention of people in the district who live in what Shulman, in August, called the "New York media market." Voters know more about New York city politics, including details about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's life, than about the representatives in their own towns, Shulman explained.
Be the first to comment on this story