Posted on 11/11/2007 5:24:07 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
From Sabato's Crystal Ball:
While New Jersey voters have their eye on next year's election, many wonder how much that focus should be on current Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg's approaching 84th birthday. If Lautenberg were just 20 years younger, most would hail him as a shoe-in incumbent; his strong and consistent criticism of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq, his Congressional experience, and his being a Democrat in this dark blue state would all greatly work in his favor. However, his old age has many pulling for retirement rather than re-election. In Lautenberg's favor is New Jersey's ranking as the second most expensive state to campaign in. With $2.9 million on hand and $1 million raised in the first quarter alone, Lautenberg certainly has the funds needed.
As it is still early in the race, thus far only two exploratory committees have been formed, with no Republicans officially entering the race as of yet. Strongly conservative Assemblyman Michael Doherty has formed one of these committees, but seems an unlikely candidate in this very blue state. The successful real estate developer Anne Evans Eastbrook is the only other potential Republican challenger to have formed an exploratory committee. Though Ms. Eastbrook may have the funds to contend with the big boys of New Jersey, she is a widely unknown figure among voters. Finally, it is the undecided state Assemblyman, Joe Pennacchio that seems to be Lautenberg's biggest worry. Often deemed Reagan-esque, many Republicans feel that Pennacchio's bipartisan appeal would make him very electable.
(Excerpt) Read more at politickernj.com ...
I think world events are going to decide the 2008 election.
What isn’t mentioned is that Lautenberg has low approval ratings. He isn’t well-liked back home.
oh great..ANOTHER 6 year Weekend At Bernies
You may be right about that.
*cough*Steve Lonegan for Senate*cough*
New Jersey is one of those states where seating two bags of sh!t in the U.S. Senate would be a huge improvement. Lautenberg has to be one of the most inconsequential people in Washington these days.
I don’t know much about New Jersey politics, but I do know Lautenberg is a typical Rat machine rodent without a single redeeming trait. A perfect poster boy for everything that is wrong with the U.S. Senate (and I can think of nothing good to say about that useless collection of Washington crap weasels).
and in this state he will be re-elected. Asm. Pennacio threw his hat in the ring and I think someone else too will run for lautenberg’s seat, so it looks as though there will be another republican primary.
Not to be crass, but Lautenberg, if he wins, will be 90 when his term is finished.
He has a very high chance of dying in office.
Knowing the democrats, they probably are hoping he does dies, so they can appoint someone and not have to have a real race until 2014
I was going to say that he might die before he can be reelected but then I realized that death won’t stop the D’s from voting for him anyway.
If I say more, I risk being banned and getting a visit from serious looking fellows in trench coats.
Whenever he would die, a special election would have to be called at the next general election. The last Senator to leave early, Pete Williams in 1982 upon his felony convictions, saw the GOP Governor, Tom Kean, appoint future US Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady, to the interim. Ironically, that was the race Lautenberg first ran for against the colorful liberal RINO Congresswoman Millicent Fenwick. Lautenberg, who was younger than Fenwick, charged she was “too old.” Lautenberg will be nearly fifteen YEARS older than Fenwick was in 1982 at the next election.
Something will happen. A crushing landslide defeat for the GOP.
I understand.
Do you have any proof he IS still alive ?
—well, at least Strom Thurmond was on our side, mostly—
“If Lautenberg were just 20 years younger, most would hail him as a shoe-in incumbent; his strong and consistent criticism of the Bush administration’s policy in Iraq, his Congressional experience, and his being a Democrat in this dark blue state would all greatly work in his favor.”
I would take issue with most of this sentence. The Bush administration will be out of office 17 days after the new Senate term begins, so that’s hardly a reason. I would also contest that NJ is a “dark blue state”. While we haven’t won the state since 1988, Bush lost by only 4 points last time which would hardly put it in the “dark blue” category. I’ve always liked Republican blue anyway. Shoe-in? Gimme a break. He’s a do-nothing.
Pennacchio sounds great. That name alone will win lots of swing Italian heritage voters. Reaganesque? Even better. He would beat Lautenberg.
Yeah well in NJ, crooks win the day and Dems go along with them each election cycle. Remember, Laut beat a good Pub when he replaced (illegaly) The Torch. I would like to see Steve Forbes run for that seat. Jersey needs a real businessman who is honest and richer than Corzine!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.