While most political observers and lawmakers are focused on the future of President Biden's campaign here in New Jersey there's a congressional race that could shift the balance of power on Capitol Hill Progressive Democratic candidate Sue Alman just released her first campaign ad in district 7 seeking to tie her opponent Congressman Tom Kane Jr to corrupt lawmakers and political influencers In the Garden State this race is considered a toss up by the nonpartisan cook political report so you can expect to pour in from both sides of the aisle to try to secure a seat and the majority in the house senior political correspondent David Cruz takes a look at where the race stands right now yep that's me and that's D Norcross and the guy is getting rich off of billion dollars in corporate giveaways for Democrat Sue Alman the George Norcross indictment couldn't have come at a better time getting dragged out of that legislative Committee hearing almost five years ago is at the center of a new Alman TV ad as she tries to keep the pressure on Republican incumbent Tom Kane Jr I think it speaks volumes that he doesn't meet with reporters doesn't answer press questions I mean have you been able to have him on the show probably not right it's disrespectful to people in this district and people are sick and tired of it and I will continue to hammer him on his cowardice it's true Tom Kane Jr generally ignores the state press but in a district that turned a bit more red before the the last election cycle the strategy has worked for him so far even his Embrace of trump has become less of an issue mostly because I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence I don't think he knows what he said either Joe Biden's precipitous decline has changed the political landscape dramatically while the country's sense of economic dread and yeah maybe even corruption are issues the top issue is the state of the top of the ticket with some Republican polls suggesting that Jersey may actually be in play Come November that's got some Democrats like Mikey Cheryl calling for the president to step aside Altman is trying to threat a political needle saying the decision on Biden should be left to Biden if Trump wins we need to flip the house if the Democrat wins we need to flip the house I couldn't help but notice that you said if Trump wins a and if the Democrat wins B so that begs the question with me is I mean do you have the right person at the top of this ticket as I said yesterday Joe Biden has served a lifetime of Public Service I respect and admire him for that and I'm sure that as the dust begins to settle um he will make the right decision for this country and I'm rooting for him to do so it may be smart um as far as uh as far as Democratic voters are concerned um not to risk alienating anybody but hopefully she is reaching Beyond her base at this point and if you reach Beyond The Core Democratic base this should not be such a controversial call and prominent Democrats distancing themselves from the top of their ticket whether it's direct like Cheryl or indirect like Alman is just what the doctor ordered for republicans in cd7 and Beyond say State GOP chairman Bob hugan there's a lot of turmoil and if I was running for office this year as a republican in New Jersey I'd be highly optimistic I would work hard I'd be using this momentum to raise money get enthusiasm voter enthusiasm on the Republican side couldn't be higher right now ultman has come a long way from these days looking much more like a politician than an activist but she insists that she's the same person at her core as for her Republican opponent mostly still crickets but by the way the past couple of weeks have been going for Democrats he really doesn't need to say much to make his point I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight news [Music]