Gottheimer raises money off threat of self-funders

The Human Fundraising Machine is raising money off the self-funding abilities of some potential opponents.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) sent out an email to donors asking for help to overcome possible challengers from former investment banker Frank Pallotta, Berkeley College owner Tim  Huing, and former Cresskill councilman John McCann.

“Here’s a list of potential opponents so far: a self-funding Wall Street banker; a scam artist who runs a chain of for-profit colleges; Moocher McCann who got busted for not paying taxes,” the Gottheimer campaign wrote.  “Between the three of them, they have some serious fundraising potential. Help us stay ahead of the pack by chipping in $50 immediately, friend.”

The campaign says that “people are linking up to run against Josh.”

“And the gargantuan network of dark-money, far right donors will be lining up to support them,” the email said.  “Make sure we avoid a worst-case scenario of having a Tea Party extremist elected to represent our district.”

Gottheimer has $4.1 million cash-on-hand as he prepares to seek re-election in a district almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.  Donald Trump carried the 5th in the 2016 presidential election.

A former Clinton White House speechwriter and Microsoft executive, Gottheimer ousted seven-term Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) in 2016 by a 51%-47% margin.  He was re-elected last year by 41,291 votes (56%-42%) against McCann.

Pallotta, who worked for Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, said this week that he is considering a challenge to Gottheimer