6/07/00 4:40 p.m.
Smart Growth
The Club for Growth comes close.

By NR's Ramesh Ponnuru & John J. Miller

ew Jersey congresswoman Marge Roukema narrowly beat back a challenge from conservative Scott Garrett, winning by only 1,700 votes. The outcome was a disappointment to the Club for Growth, a PAC promoting economic conservatives, which backed Garrett. "It's agonizing to come so close and lose," says Stephen Moore, director of the Club (and an NR contributing editor). "But we do think we've sent a pretty powerful message that Republicans can't abandon an economic conservative message."

Moore notes that Roukema had to move right to beat Garrett. She called herself a Reagan Republican, and the Republican Leadership Council ran ads presenting her as a tax-cutter. House Republican leaders helped Roukema, as well, which leaves Moore fuming. "The leadership has to give her money; that's part of being the leadership," he says. "But you don't have to give her $5000." He singles out majority leader Dick Armey, for whom he used to work: "What am I supposed to say? Dick Armey is a liberal? There's not a chance in hell that if Dick Armey were in trouble politically Marge Roukema would rush to his rescue. . . . We feel betrayed by him. . . . Our members are some of Dick Armey's biggest and most loyal supporters over the years."

Garrett came close in 1998, too, so it's easy to dismiss the Club's role. But Roukema was taken by surprise last time. This time, she was forewarned and prepared. Coming close to knocking off a ten-term incumbent is not a bad start for the Club. It's involved in other races across the country, and may put up a challenger to New York's Sherwood Boehlert. "We're not backing off," says Moore.

The Other Races
Mod/lib Dick Zimmer handily beat conservative Mike Pappas to run as the Republican candidate for the seat both men have held. The good news in the primaries was that conservative Mike Ferguson won against a crowded field including the son of former governor Tom Kean.

Conservatives didn't have any strong candidates in the Senate primary. Bob Franks is just a little better than William Gormley-and he did just a little better last night. Franks will face Jon Corzine. In the New York Times Magazine a few months ago, James Traub wrote, "Corzine's position papers make amazing reading. He is almost certainly to the left of the entire United States Senate, including Ted Kennedy and Paul Wellstone, and he doesn't have many competitors even in the House."