Raj for Congress?

Raj Bhakta is a Neighborhood kind of guy, believe it or not. This isnt an old school definition of Neighborhood Guy, rather an updated one. Raj was born in Frankford and spent half his time growing up in Mayfair, where half his family still lives today. Raj can walk in any corner bar in the City and feel comfortable which may seem odd due to his Hill School pedigree. It is good to see a young guy like this using celebrity for the good of the populace. Good Luck Raj.

Courtesy of PhillyBurbs

Reality TV star looks to trump Schwartz
By SARAH LARSON
The Intelligencer
He was known for his bow tie and flirtatious ways on "The Apprentice," and now he's flirting with a run for Congress.
Raj Bhakta, former contestant on Donald Trump's reality show, said he is contemplating challenging Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz in next year's election for the 13th District.
"I think Allyson Schwartz is a formidable opponent, clearly. At the same time, I think she's beatable," Bhakta said, adding that he wants to run "because I think it's very important to have a fresh, progressive, conservative voice representing the parts of the country that are not necessarily blue and not necessarily red."
Bhakta, a 29-year-old businessman from the Fort Washington area, is a Republican. He said he has talked to Montgomery County GOP chairman Ken Davis and Philadelphia GOP leader Vito Canuso and plans to go to Washington, D.C., next week to talk to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Davis - who said he never watched "The Apprentice" - said he had no trouble taking Bhakta seriously.
"Any candidate who decides to do this and is as organized and as thoughtful as I think he is, you have to take them seriously," Davis said Tuesday. "He has a lot of ideas, and he's a very bright young man. I think he is a serious candidate."
For now, he's also the only GOP candidate. Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor had expressed interest in the office, but Davis said he since has decided against it.
Still, the Democratic incumbent is not showing signs of worry. Schwartz's staffers shrugged off an "Apprentice" challenge.
"In the nine months that Allyson's been in office, she has clearly delivered for the residents of Philadelphia and Montgomery County," said her chief of staff, Daniel McElhatton, pointing out that she gave a check for $1 million to Hatboro on Tuesday for street improvements. "I think that level of delivering for the people of the 13th will certainly be rewarded through re-election."
Bhakta grew up in Blue Bell, the son of an Irish immigrant mother, Mary Mullaney, and an Indian immigrant father, Bharat Bhakta. His father owned new car dealerships, Raj Toyota and Raj Chevrolet, which have since been sold and renamed.
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Bhakta went to the Hill School near Pottstown, a private, college preparatory boarding school, then to Boston College, graduating with a degree in history and economics and a minor in finance. He now owns two businesses; one, Vanquish Holdings, deals with real estate, and the other, Automovia, deals with the valuation of used cars.
He also founded a group called the Coalition for the Advancement of the Republic. A blog on the Web site outlines his take on current issues, from foreign policy and immigration to education and social security.
Before he can hammer his opinions into a campaign platform, however, Bhakta said he knows he has a monumental task: figuring out where the cash will come from.
"Everywhere I've gone, even before they ask me what I believe, they ask how much money I can raise," Bhakta said. "For one district in Congress, to know that $10 million could be spent on the election, aggregately. Well, something's wrong there."
As for his chances of winning, even Davis was cautious.
"For somebody who's not well-known by the electorate, except for people who watch the television show, I would say it's an uphill battle," Davis said. "But he knows that, and if he catches fire with the committee people, well, elections can be funny things sometimes. He could be a good candidate, but it's a question of money and message."
On "The Apprentice," Bhakta gained a reputation as a ladies' man, asking for tennis star Anna Kournikova's phone number and even flirting with Donald Trump's receptionist after Trump had just fired him.
Bhakta dismissed the banter as the makings of "good television" and said he hopes women voters would see him as "a forceful advocate for women to play a full and pre-eminent, certainly equal, role in society."
"Another girl who got fired from The Apprentice is off eating bugs," Bhakta said. "I've gotten off and tried to talk about issues I think are important for the country. I care deeply, and that's why I'm doing this."
Sarah Larson can be reached at (215) 345-3187 or slarson@phillyBurbs.com.