NJ candidate refuses to apologize for vulgar comment

WILDWOOD, N.J. (WPVI) -- A candidate for the New Jersey assembly is in damage control mode after making a vulgar comment to a woman at a bar.

Someone videotaped the candidate inside a popular Wildwood hangout.

Brian McDowell isn't sure who shot the video or released it, but he doesn't think it should have any bearing on his campaign.

The ten second clip taken at a bar shows the Wildwood real estate broker slurring his words as he propositions a woman.

"You should [expletive] me. It'll be really good." said McDowell.

But McDowell isn't going to apologize.

"It's not something I'm proud of. Fact is I said it. I probably shouldn't have," he said.

He calls it much ado about nothing.

McDowell said, "In that moment it was a jestful conversation with a friend I've known for over 10 years."

But it cost him the endorsement of his party after the clip was sent anonymously to Cape May County Republicans.

In a statement last week the group's chair said "Issues and information have surfaced that places the candidate in a light that is inconsistent with several of the group's core principles."

McDowell, who appeared on NBC's The Apprentice and coordinated President Trump's campaign in the county, says he's not dropping out and is hoping voters will look past his crude language as they've done before.

"We elected Donald Trump. Trump has been known to say things that were blasted over the media and voters got past that," said McDowell.

McDowell will be on the ballot with 2 other candidates.

The election is June 6.

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