Posted on 01/25/2012 6:47:35 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
New Jersey Sen. Joseph Kyrillos announced Thursday he intends to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to run against Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez in November.
The 51-year-old Monmouth County legislator said he converted his federal exploratory committee to a campaign account and will formally announce his candidacy soon.
"As the father of two young children, I believe we can and must restore the limitless opportunities and freedom that made America great and inspired people like my own father to immigrate to this country," Kyrillos said in a statement.
Menendez campaign consultant Brad Lawrence responded late Thursday, saying, "New Jersey's voters will have a very clear choice if Sen. Kyrillos becomes the Republican nominee — Sen. Bob Menendez who fights every day for middle-class New Jersey families, or long-time Trenton insider Joe Kyrillos, who sides with corporations and special interests over working families and seniors, and panders to the most extreme elements of the Washington Republicans."
Kyrillos is a long-time friend of Gov. Chris Christie and has been the governor's closest GOP ally in the Legislature. Kyrillos chaired Christie's successful 2009 campaign for governor and Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential bid in New Jersey. Christie and his wife were the match-makers for Kyrillos and his wife, Susan.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Kyrillos is tight with Chris Christie, which could come in handy. New Jersey has a history of dissapointing, but Menendez does not have high approval ratings.
Don’t think we’ll see anyone better than Little and Kyrillos enter the race, the bench is so thin it is lucky that we see two candidates for the primary.
Kyrillos is the wheeler dealer and Little is a really smart cookie, so we get to choose between form and substance.
Is Kyrillos conservative? And may I assume that he’s Greek Orthodox, not Catholic?
IMHO, the ideal GOP statewide candidate in NJ would be a Catholic from North Jersey (or at least central NJ. That’s part of the reason why I’ve long wanted Mike Ferguson to run for the Senate.
IDK regarding his religious affiliation.
AFAIK his business acumen, and business friendly history, he’s about the best you’ll find, though he has on occasion advocated/sponsored some very strong environmental legislation.
He is possibly Gov Christie’s closest personal friend, and vice versa.
I have no idea where he really stands on social issues, it’s almost irrelevant in NJ, though this week there is a push to legalize gay marriage in the NJ government, check up that.
He is a Romney man, led Romney2008 campaign in NJ, he is a Christie man they’ve been friends for 20_ years.
He is possibly electable against Menendez,
In regards to beating shyster Bob, Kyrillos is a good horse to bet on.
Second tier choices to be sure but better than nothing. With luck this race could develop.
I guess the only first tier choice would if RINO Kean Jr. were to be coaxed into a rematch.
Robert Menendez is sitting on $9 million in the bank. My hope is that his ethics problems start getting publicity.
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