MARTINSVILLE - Michael Roth is a soft-spoken fella, so when he exudes over-the-top optimism, it comes across as confidence rather than cockiness.

He did that Wednesday evening at a "meet and greet" in this section of Bridgewater Township.

"This is going to be a huge blue wave," Roth told about 20 people in a private home referring to the midterms.

So huge, that he said he thinks "more about winning in 2028, holding onto this seat, because if we just get two years out of this, I don't think it will be worth it."

Roth is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nod to challenge Tom Kean Jr this fall in CD-7, which covers at least parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
Worries about 2028 notwithstanding, the main goal for Democrats is winning this year. Republicans hold a registration advantage of about 20,000.
The other three candidates running in the June 2 primary are Rebecca Bennett, Brian Varela and Tina Shah.

With that in mind, Roth was asked by a woman in the audience why he's the best candidate of the four to represent the party against Kean.

His answer was that the main concern of residents in a sprawling (by New Jersey standards) district is cost of living and the economy in general.

And that, Roth said, is in his wheelhouse as a former director with the U.S. Small Business Administration. He was there during COVID and oversaw the Paycheck Protection program.

To that end, he spoke of visiting a farm in Sussex County, probably the "reddest" part of the district. Just in case no one forgot, he said there was a MAGA flag out front.

Still, they invited him in. (Farmers, of course, are friendly folk).

He said they also had been helped by the Small Business Administration. But now, Roth learned that this farmer was struggling again because of a "triple whammy."

That would be tariffs driving away customers, the war in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz raising the price of fertilizer and immigrant laborers afraid to come to work.

Those farmers, he said, will vote Democrat this year.

For Roth, this is key to him winning the primary and the general.

"I can connect everywhere with the right message," he said.

The elephant in the room, or perhaps the elephant that's seldom in the room, could not be ignored.

A woman brought up the fact that Kean has not appeared in Congress for more than a month.

Roth criticized Kean for not being more forthcoming with "his bosses." That would be the people of CD-7.

Kean this week did issue a statement saying he is still dealing with a medical issue and that he will be back "very soon." The statement was not specific about the medical issue.

Roth joked that it took the state's Republican delegation in the House a month to realize Kean was absent, drawing laughs.

More seriously, he said the Kean campaign is still raising money during his absence.

Roth said that shows Kean "reports" not to the people, but to his donors.