A number of Republicans have expressed interest in taking on Rep. John Adler (D-N.J.), but New Jersey Republican officials hope to come together to support one challenger to the freshman Democrat by January or February, at the latest.

“It is extremely important for us to avoid a primary, and that is our number one goal,” said Burlington County Republican Chairman William Layton.

“I share that hope,” Camden County Chairman Richard DeMichele said.

The issue, however, is whether the three counties that make up the 3rd district — Burlington, Ocean and Camden — can rally around one candidate. Ocean and Burlington make up the majority of the district while Camden’s party committee could be a tie breaker if the two others disagree.