Pascrell Beats Rothman In 9th District

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell has won a hard-fought battle of incumbents, besting fellow congressman Steve Rothman in the Democratic primary in New Jersey's newly drawn 9th District.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday, Pascrell had 64 percent of the vote in the district, which includes portions of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties.

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In a concession speech, Rothman called Pascrell his friend and said he would help the Democratic ticket in November.

The two ended up in a rare incumbent vs. incumbent campaign because districts were redrawn this year.

A judge ruled that 2,000 absentee ballots could be counted despite a complaint by Rothman about possible irregularities.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach won the Republican nomination. The rabbi is a TV personality who authored
the book "Kosher Sex" and was a onetime spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)