By Rachel Kapochunas, CQ Staff

A bruising Republican primary in New Jersey’s 3rd District has placed the GOP in greater jeopardy of losing the seat to Democratic State Sen. John Adler this fall.

Republican Chris Myers, Mayor of Medford, emerged victorious from his party’s primary June 3, but was forced into a competitive and negative primary for the title of party nominee. The race put Myers behind on the fundraising front, while Adler, who faced no primary opposition, continued to stockpile funds.

Adler held a nearly 10 to 1 cash-on-hand advantage over Myers as of June 30. Myers reported $155,000 on hand and Adler reported $1.5 million on hand.

Due to Adler’s continued momentum in a highly competitive seat, CQ Politics is changing the rating of the open seat race from Leans Republican to the more competitive category of No Clear Favorite.

Adler ran against Republican Rep. H. James Saxton in 1990 and lost, but soon won a seat in the state Senate. Adler then set his sights on the U.S. Senate and began raising money for 2008, the year it was rumored Democratic Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg , now 84, would retire. Instead, Lautenberg is seeking another term in office.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) targeted Saxton early on, believing that Saxton could be beat if an opponent did more to hold him “accountable.” Saxton had established a centrist profile in Congress, which included being pro-environment, that earned him strong support over nearly a quarter century in office.

Democrats recruited Adler to run against Saxton and complicated the longterm incumbent’s re-election prospects. Saxton announced in November 2007 his decision to retire due to health concerns.

The DCCC earmarked extra fundraising and organizational support for Adler as one of their “Red to Blue” candidates. Adler was also permitted to shift about $200,000 in campaign cash from the account he had set up for his anticipated Senate race to a House account.

Adler’s early decision to run gave him a head start on the race while Republican recruiting efforts in the district got off to a rocky start. Republican state Sen. Diane Allen was heavily courted to run but declined. Formidable candidates then stepped forward: Myers, Ocean County Freeholder John P. “Jack” Kelly and former Tabernacle Township Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy. Myers hailed from Burlington County, Saxton’s home base, and received the Congressman’s endorsement.

Myers won the primary with 49 percent and Kelly and Murphy each received 25 percent.

The race between Kelly and Myers turned into a county-versus-county contest that soon became heated and acrimonious. Seton Hall political scientist Joseph Marbach recently told CQ Politics he believes the primary had a negative impact on the local party.

“Republicans have a long way to go to heal some of the division that’s there,” Marbach said.

Myers, who is also a Navy veteran and Lockheed Martin senior executive, has military connections which may prove beneficial in a district that contains two bases, McGuire Air Force Base and the Army’s Fort Dix. The Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station is close by in the 4th District. But those connections have also been fodder for his critics. During the primary, Kelly argued Myers has a conflict of interest because of his lobbying for the defense industry.