NORTHFIELD - Republicans of a certain generation have long cherished Ronald Reagan. Many still do, but on Saturday it was a Democrat who eagerly read excerpts of Reagan's last speech as president on Jan. 19, 1989.

That was Zack Mullock, the man challenging Republican Jeff Van Drew in CD-2 covering much of south Jersey.

The speech he quoted may get more attention now than it did 37 years ago. It was a rousing defense of immigration and the need for the United States to always welcome new residents.

Here is a part of what Mullock read from Reagan:

"We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost…”

Reagan, of course, has not changed over time. Nor have his words.

Ah, but the Republican party under Donald Trump certainly has changed.

The president still wants to nullify not a speech from the 1980's, but a constitutional amendment from 1868.

Mullock was speaking at the official opening of his campaign's Atlantic County office in this suburban community. He drew a packed house.

Local political types know the history. First elected in 2018 as a Democrat, Van Drew soon thereafter became a Republican.

And not just any Republican. He went full-blown MAGA. It's worked so far. He's been reelected three times.

Clearly with the administration's immigration policies in mind, Mullock argued that his campaign will concentrate on basic things - like treating all people with respect and civility and supporting health care for those in need.

Mullock, who is the mayor of Cape May, said that parts of the district are not wealthy. In fact, by New Jersey standards, they're pretty poor.

Nonetheless, he said Van Drew has supported cuts to Medicaid, a program designed to help those very individuals.

"Those are the people we are fighting for," he said.

Looking down the road, Mullock said he knows that his opponent will call him and his supporters, "extremists."

Actually, just recently Team Van Drew called Mullock a liar.

"If our opponent's lips are moving, he's lying," was the precise quote. Not very creative, but it makes the point.

Mullock said that the attack was taken out of context - or rather from something he said years ago when, in fact, municipal taxes were not being raised.

As is the norm for such things, various local office holders and candidates were on hand, jamming in and outside a room in the same building as the Beach Buns Bakery on Route 9.

"The room is packed, not because it's small, but because we're excited," observed Walead Abdrabouh, the Atlantic County Democratic chair.

Having a small room for a political event is an old trick - a great way to make things overflow. But in this case, "just a coincidence," the chairman said.