Cory Booker Makes a Campaign Pit Stop in Collingswood

Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) made a quick campaign stop in Collingswood Monday to shake some hands and meet with local business owners in advance of the upcoming October special election for U.S. Senate.

Collingswood is yet another stop on the southern leg of the statewide campaign trail for Booker, who made an appearance in Cherry Hill earlier this month.

Dozens crammed inside The Pop Shop on Haddon Avenue to snap some photos with the candidate while he took in some of the sights and sounds of the downtown Collingswood business district. 

Pop Shop co-owner Connie Correia–Fisher was “excited and flattered” to have the Democratic candidate in her establishment.

“I think this is the spot in Collingswood to come because we’re sort of the all-American restaurant, Main Street, USA, and that’s where he’s coming from,” she said.

Flattery aside, Correia–Fisher still has her expectations of whomever is elected to represent New Jersey in Congress.

“I want him to be a voice for us in the Senate and to remember that we’re here and that we need a say and to fight for what we need,” she said.

Booker was more than happy to answer questions from Collingswood voters, who came armed with cameras and effusive support—however, his press aide denied all media requests, just as has Booker had done during his Cherry Hill visit.

Haddon Township resident Ellen Corleto asked Booker for his take on the current student loan crisis and whether he had a plan to combat the escalating debt.

With one son attending Drew University and another considering Virginia Tech, federal student aid is one of her “biggest concerns.”

“[Booker] said he was getting a plan together,” said Corleto.

“He said that there shouldn’t be a threat for students with loans that are at 3 percent and then balloon up to 6 percent, and that it shouldn’t be that way,” she said.

Next, Booker stopped into Galerie Marie to speak with owner Kimberly Camp, past president of the Barnes Foundation, about her artwork and the history behind the artists who provided some of the pieces in her gallery.

“I love meeting politicians who have integrity because they seem so far and few between these days,” she said.

Employees at the Irish Mile Bar and Restaurant in Haddon Township later reported that, after leaving Collingswood, Booker stopped in for a quick slice of pizza before heading off to Atlantic City to finish up his day with a run on the boardwalk.

Booker has the lead among several hopefuls campaigning before the August 13 primary election. 

If he makes the first cut, which he is widely expected to do, Booker will eventually take on the Republican nominee in an Oct. 16 special election to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).