Congressman Bill Pascrell Defeats Rep. Steve Rothman In 9th District Seat Race
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Bill Pascrell defeated fellow Democrat Steve Rothman in their fight for the redrawn 9th Congressional District seat Tuesday night.
"Now the real work starts and I'm ready. I'm ready for it -- I'm ready for the real work," Pascrell said after his victory.
SEE: 2012 Primary Results
Pascrell voted Tuesday in Paterson, where he's lived for 42 years. Rothman voted in Englewood, where he grew up and moved to when the districts were redrawn.
The two congressmen who once called each other friends were caught up in the tight and bitter Democratic primary race.
"For being a friend, he's attacked me personally, he's attacked me politically -- which he has every right to do. But we voted just about the same thing on everything he's talking about," Pascrell told CBS 2's Christine Sloan earlier Tuesday.
"I am the guy who's looking for his ninth term in the 9th district. I guess that's why President Obama on Friday, June 1, called me into the Oval Office of the White House to say 'Steve, I want you to win, I support you,'" Rothman said.
Former President Bill Clinton had thrown his support to Pascrell in a battle filled with drama, including Rothman trying to impound 2,000 absentee ballots.
Pascrell said it was a move "To repress the vote, to push people away, to scare people. It's not going to work. He should be ashamed of himself."
A judge ruled the ballots would be counted with a stipulation.
"I was very glad the Superior Court judge ruled that both campaigns have the right to look at these absentee ballots before they're open," Rothman said.
The 9th Congressional District covers parts of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.
"I think he is excellent to senior citizens and that is why I am interested in voting for him," Pascrell supporter Sydelle Wallace said.
"He seems to be very in tune with the needs of Bergen County," said Rothman supporter David Feuer.
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