Referring to an attack ad funded by AIPAC (the American Israel Political Action Committee) falsely accusing him of supporting ICE, Tom Malinowski said last week that all candidates in the special CD-11 Democratic primary should condemn it.

On Sunday, they all had their chance to do so.

Some did. Some didn't.

The setting was a forum via Zoom sponsored by the Morris County Jewish Democratic caucus. There are 11 candidates in the race, but one of them, Justin Strickland, was absent.

The ad in question has been on TV for about a week. It alleges that Malinowski can not be trusted because he backed a bill in 2019 that included humanitarian aid and more border control. All Democratic House members from New Jersey backed the bill, including then-Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. Malinowski - then a congressman from CD-7 - is now running to replace Sherrill in neighboring CD-11.

The ad ties Malinowski's "yes" vote to the present activities of ICE.

On his social media page, Malinowski in a video said the ad makes him, "so f... furious."
At Sunday's forum - a more serene atmosphere to be sure - the candidates were asked about the ad.

Malinowski said the ad was "incredibly disturbing," because it was a lie and also because it was attacking him. He said his support for Israel is a mainstream position in the Democratic Party. He again called for his fellow candidates to condemn it.

Next to speak in the pre-arranged order of the day was Analilia Mejia, who said:

"I do condemn AIPAC," adding that the group is moving in ways that are not aligned with democracy.

Candidate Jeff Grayzel concurred. He said AIPAC has lost its "moral compass" and that its attacks were, generally speaking, bad for the Democratic party.

Anna Lee Williams was in the same camp. Williams, the only Gen Z candidate in the race, deplored a "disgusting" amount of money coming into the race - a lot of it against Malinowski.

Cammie Croft said the ad was "unfair" and that it can turn voters off.

The other candidates did not unequivocally denounce the ad.

Many observers - for what it is worth - see the race as between Malinowski and Gill, an Essex County commissioner.

Gill said he understands what Malinowski is going through, but that people supporting the former congressman are running negative ads about him.

The other candidates were not all that specific about the AIPAC ad, but they criticized "dark money" in politics and Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited spending by third parties on behalf of a candidate.

Tahesha Way, who just left her post as lieutenant governor, said that "negative campaigning is not new."

That's why, she added. "I am focusing on my deliverables and accomplishments throughout my career."

There has been speculation in political circles about the intent of the AIPAC ad - or, rather, who does it benefit.

That may be unknown, but just for the record, the Jewish Insider, a digital news outlet that covers U.S. politics and Jewish affairs, just ran a very favorable article about Way.

Here was the tease.

"Campaigning in a crowded field for the New Jersey House seat recently vacated by newly inaugurated Gov. Mikie Sherrill, former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way is leaning strongly into her support for Israel and the state’s Jewish community, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports.

What she said: Speaking to JI last week, Way cited the rise in antisemitism that is leaving Jewish voters “terrified” as one of the reasons she’s running for office, alongside her concern about attacks on civil liberties, health-care access, the economy and immigration raids. She said that, going forward, it’s “really my fervor and my hope to continue my work on behalf of the Jewish community,” highlighting the work of the New Jersey-Israel Commission -  which fell under her purview when she served as secretary of state - to increase trade between Israel and New Jersey as well as push back on antisemitism."

Back to the forum, Malinowski thanked those who had directly answered the question about the ad.