Doherty would be strong, no doubt about it. Young and charismatic is a bad match-up for Frank L.

However, I question whether Doherty will be able to raise the necessary money to compete. He'll have to be within striking distance before he can count on any support from the national GOP, and the national Dems will pour tons of money to hold onto this seat, if necessary.

Al Leiter is the man Republicans need to get behind. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. He is the only Republican in the field that has any chance of beating Frank Lousyberg.

Also, Rick Shaftan managed Mayor Lonegan's Gubernatorial campain in '05. He managed his Mayoral re-election campaign for a third term in Bogota in '03.

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

Sorry.

This guy does not have a chance.

He will not be a "formidable" opponent. The guy is markedly more conservative than Tom Kean - and the ultra-conservative message does not, under any circumstances resonate in a state like New Jersey. Seriously, it doesn't matter how much money the guy raises he is still going to lose by 7-10 points. Beyond that, Lautenberg has over 2 million in the bank already and has a long history in this state. Another easy win. YAWN.

It'd be nice to have an easy election for once.

As for Leiter, just think of Lynn Swan in PA last year. Being a famous, well spoken ballplayer is good and all, but Leiter's politics are perfect for Dino -- not for New Jersey.

Very mature with the name-calling, by the way, Dino.

Sen. Lautenberg (and Sen. Menendez) are both so responsive to N.J. needs, from spinach crop problems to flooding to environmental preservation, and representative of our state's progressive ideological thrust that I find myself incredibly thankful that they are our Washington senators. Lautenberg receives a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and other pro-women, pro-choice interest groups and has been a strong critic of the illegitimate war in Iraq, coining the apt term "chicken hawks" for our deferment-plagued president and vice president who nonetheless send our troops into battle ill-equipped and with no discernible strategy.

 For Doherty, I admire any grassroots effort, even if it by a far-right conservative, to get elected. That said, all that Democrats have to do is emphasize his anti-choice stance on abortion, taking a cue from the picture posted here, and characterize him as a Bush conservative, which seems to be an accurate characterization, and Doherty will get "Schundlered." Doherty is not a wise choice for pragmatic Republicans in the state who want a fighting chance for this seat in 2008.

I call 'em like I see 'em, Anonymous.

As far as Lynn Swann goes, if he ran in a GOP primary against Arlen Spectacle he would win and would win in the General against anybody the Democrats put up.

When I think of Al Leiter, I think more along the lines of Steve Largent and Jack Kemp.

Just what is the deal with Frank Lousyberg anyway? I thought your hair and nails were supposed to stop growing after you died.

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

Michael Doherty would be a great choice for US Senate for the Republican party and would be exactly what this state and party needs to run and win: CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES. I agree that 2 things against him right off the bat are money and lack of name recognition. Both of those can be fixed and turned around to positives. But the one thing he absolutely needs to stay away from is hiring NJ political consultants. I see the same names go from campaign to campaign, from Schundler in the primary to Forrester in the general to Kean '06. And they all have one thing in common. THEY ALL LOST. Doherty needs to bring in National consultants that have dealt with winning senate campaigns.

Leave it to a liberal to get upset with name-calling. It comes from years of whining in the classroom, "Teacher, he's calling me names!" Did you learn to tattletale in Kindergarten with everything else you ever needed to know in life?

Because Oklahoma is just as blue a state as New Jersey...and remember, Largent lost when he ran statewide. They say what turned the tide was the fact that Brad Henry got the support of the state cockfighting association...gee that sounds like something that could happen in NJ. Sports heroes may be able to win in local or congressional races, but they seem to have a problem when they try to run statewide. Ask Tom Osborne about that.

but he was actually a bright guy who new more than how to throw a fastball or run the wishbone offense...

Doherty can't win! When will you guys stop running right wing nutbars in a progressive state? Anne Estabrook might be able to beat Laurenberg. But you all would rather lose with a nut than win with a sane person.

Many here seem to think this campaign will be about the same old topics that are used over and over again just as diversions. I doubt if it will be of the "conventional" type at all.

I see Doherty speaking out on our borders, domestic energy production and our continued and failed policy of being the world's police force.

With no comprehensive immigration policy, our jobs are leaving faster than we can keep track of. Labor should recognize this as a big problem. Doherty has already introduced legislation that requires legal status for public services, but the Democrat controlled legislature leaves it gathering dust. The unions will someday see that there are no jobs left for them to organize.

Doherty knows we need to get our domestic energy production on line to make it so these powers in the Mideast can't tell us what to do. Lautenberg has stood in the way of us moving forward on that goal.

Doherty is clearly fed up with squandering our blood and treasury for the defense of governments across the world who oppose our interests. Look at Europe, we defend them and they create a competing currency, the Euro, to undermine US dollar strength. We have obligations at home, and Doherty is more concerned about our seniors and domestic industry than keeping unpopular governments in power.

The "08 race is going to be different, and it's about time. The US is in serious trouble, and a leader like Doherty, who is strong spoken will appeal to the masses.

Great, just what the NJGOP needs, another Christie Whitless!

The NJGOP needs a big name as a Senate candidate under Rudy on the '08 General Election ballot in November and Al Leiter is it. His stature on top of Rudy's would put him in the Senate for sure.

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

GOP Feminist. NJ a Progressive state ? Tell us all what political or historical philosophy does Progressive socialism come from.? It is a foreign concept to our constitutional Republic. The  reason why conservative ideas have not gained real traction in NJ is more to do with bad salesman and marketing skills of candidates than the anti American rantings of the left. Now to Martin one. Lautenberg comes from a town called Cliffside "Perks" ( Park) where the convicted official gets to keep his pension ( See todays Bergen Record). Lautenbergs home town is corrupt an has been for over 40 years. Lautenberg/ Menendez team have done nothing for the taxpayers of NJ, except flood districts 36,37, 38 with Illegals. For Martin one, 2 , 3 etc these crooks can do nothing wrong.

The GOP has not nominated anyone from South Jersey for statewide office in 31 years. Who was the last GOP state chairman from the south? And as the Dems pick up lots of ground in the South, why should we vote for yet another North Jersey candidate when the party has effectively turned its back on us?

b/c he's young, bright, well-spoken....it creates a contrast w/ Lautenberg.

Yes, he will need to tone down his pro-life, pro-gun rhetoric, but he has a chance b/c I'm not sure Frank L. has the stomach or skills to wage a rough-and-tumble campaign anymore.

Hey networker, the hometown is not cliffside park, it's manhattan where his apartment and his restaurant are located.

Martin- Menendez great for NJ??? Please, the guy is at 34% and just cast the worst aspersions about New Jersey politicians when he stood against earmark reform. How do all of you at your freaking DFA-Grassroots-Democracy Now-Kumbayaa meetings feel about that?? Had the GOP not run a candidate who condemned a whole county (Hudson) we woulda beaten him big. As for Doherty, I saw him in person and I am a true believer. This man is not a Kean Republican, he is not a W. Republican. He is a true, old-school, blue-collar conservative. He can win the Reagan Democrat towns that Kean couldn't even find on the map when he was stuck driving his yippy hybrid on Route 1. He will be able to paint Frank Lautenberg as out of touch and out of time and now hes gotta pay $8 every time he goes to his home in Manhattan.

We won't have to truck Frank out for anything...all we will have to do is remind the voters that Republicans=Iraq War...plain and simple.

Infact, the Kean Campaign was supposed to air a slew of radio ads from Hudson County Democrats for Tom Kean and after the Kean Campaign aired the ad featuring Larry Giancola, a Democrat who was deeply religious, Garden State Equality ripped him to pieces. The Kean campaign as a result, wimped out and didn't air the remaining ads that were produced.

Instead of attacking Hudson County itself, the Kean campaign should've attacked Menendez in his own backyard. A lesson that no Republican running a statewide election in New Jersey has seemed to learn yet.

Until Republicans stop neglecting Northeastern New Jersey, they will never win another statewide election here ever again.

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

GOPUSA, it isn't the name recognition or the lack of money that will ultimately bring down Doherty.  He is too conservative for the state.  I know you extreme right people believe you can win with your candidates in NJ, but you can't.  By the way, why is it that the Republican party is non existant in Hudson County?

Hey PulaskiSkyway, enough with the woulda, coulda.  The fact of the matter is you didn't defeat Menendez and there is no way you will defeat him when he runs for reelection.  If you think you can, I'd like some of what you're smoking.

If Lautenberg moved from his Penthause Apt in the Carlisle in CP to Midtown and NYC is now his primary residence does not that disqualify him from running.? If that is indeed true it shows how out of touch he is and did he move to avoid the Calabrese / Paladino Family scandals. ebmd. Keep it up about Iraq, yes while you and Harry Reid give the middle finger to our troops, the good people of NJ want results and acting as Bin Ladens spokesman will only turn NJ voters against you this year. Hay its an off year election...

The reason the Republican party is non-existent(it's spelled existEnt) in Hudson County is because Jose Arango is a shill for the Democrats. He is employed by Jeremiah Healy who is soon to become the next HCDO Chairman. That's why Arango didn't run slates in the 31st or 33rd Districts. He was told not to. Arango has reduced the Hudson GOP to an HCDO insurance policy.

As I have stated more times than I care to remember, Republicans have left the Northeast region for dead and have allowed the Democrats to grow their monopoly there. Now they have to start finding a way to rectify that mistake if they are going to win in New Jersey ever again.

 Hey WNYer, how's Homeless Carlos doing nowadays?

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

I guess Networker doesn't look at the Polls either....if he did, he would see that Bush is at about 25% approval...and most of us in NJ want the killing of our troops to stop now. So does most of the US in a new poll out today by the WSJ. I guess the majority is wrong...and the Bushies are right...of course. At least in that make believe world they live in. So please, bring on a true conservative and see how much support he will get. Maybe after that debacle you will wise up and put someone up that can actually talk to the feelings of most New Jerseyans....or you can just keep calling people names...the politics of personal destruction. That's what the republicans are all about...I'm just happy that most of the country can see through that now.

resurrectingreagan -- Who got upset with namecalling? Did I cry? Waaaaaa! Did I whine? Stop it you bully! Did I pout. How could you do that, you brute? Did I go to the moderator? Teacher, he's picking on Democrats!

Nope. As usual folks from your side exaggerate, accuse, throw up straw men, knock them down and then smugly claim victory over a fictional foe. It worked for a few years, but that time has passed.

All I noted was that the maturity level for Dino was pretty low if he's stooping to calling people names in an effort to make his political points. He does it with Republicans, too, and I think it is just as childish then.

Only when they wake him up to change his diapers.

The deficit between what NJ sends to the Federal Government in tax dollars and what we receive back now exceeds $30B. That is almost the amount of our entire state budget. It is also among the lowest returns of any state in this country. You can't blame it on the Republicans. Democratic Senators from other states have done a far better job.

Jose Arango may not be the person you'd want to lead your party but he is a Republican and is solidly Republican.

WNYer, Jose Arango is about as solid a Republican as your boy Albio Sires was in 1986 when he claimed that he had "found his political conscience". Jose Arango may have been a solid Republican once upon a time but that all changed once he needed a job.

 Any word on Homeless Carlos?

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

Doherty on stem cell legislation: "The stem cell legislation signed into law today by the governor is yet another assault on the unborn in New Jersey."

Doherty on the Kyoto Treaty which would combat global warming:"[we shouldn't] enact Kyoto because it does not do anything to generate jobs or enhance the marketability of our products abroad,"

Doherty's rating from New Jersey Right to Life: 100%

Doherty on civil unions for gays and lesbians: "I'm concerned we're moving too fast'' said Doherty, who voted against the measure today. (source: Bloomberg) _______________________________________________________ GOPFeminist is right (and, respectfully, what is someone concerned with womens' rights doing in the Republican Party?): He will get absolutely walloped in an election versus Lautenberg.

Networker should stop carrying water for the Bush administration and its cronies by using the smear campaign tactics of Karl Rove and instead recognize that Sen. Lautenberg has served the state quite well.

To criticize the senator for not getting enough tax money back from an administration that is putting the strangehold on our federal income tax revenue returns seems to be putting the blame on the wrong party.

I didn't know NJ elected US Senators in 07..that's because they don't...dude, you need a civics class! and it's Bellevue...you should also sign up for a spelling class... I believe the middle finger to the troops really comes from Bush's Defense Dept. which lengthened their tours and sends them out in the field underequipped. I, on the other hand have donated frequent flier miles so that they can get home once the military ditches them 3000 miles from their hometowns and I have donated stamps and calling cards so they can keep in touch with their families. What have you done other than repeat the same tired old talking points that Karl Rove has come up with day after day???

This just keeps getting better and better for Republicans in NJ, doesn't it?  Let's keep a tally sheet - Steve Lonegan, Mike Doherty, Doug Forrester, Bob Franks, and the list goes on and on.  There is absolutely no one, I mean no one that is the standardbearer for the Republicans in this state.  Don't give me Chris Christie.  The I don't know if and when I'll run is so old.  Let's see when he gets fired when the new Democratic president is elected, then he will make up his mind.  Please!  What a pathetic mess the GOP is in.  Bergen, Mercer, Atlantic and other counties never could get  a Dem elected to dog catcher, now they can't even get along with themselves.  Mike Doherty!  Can Lautenberg say 90% pluarility!

Gotta love it! Bits and pieces of issues to distort the facts.

Stem cells - Embryonic stem cells are the issue, adult stem cell research offers the best results so far, but for some reason some feel they have to create a market to promote abortion. Doherty does not oppose adult stem cell research.

Koyoto - If we look at the entire position, the big problem is that Koyoto exempts major economies that are in competition with the US. Assuming there was good cause to enter into such an agreement based on valid science, anyone in leadership that feels that the US should be less competitive in the global market should look at our manufacturing sector to see job growth.....NONE!

Too fast on Civil Unions? ...... greased lightning can't move as fast as that legislation did! A few weeks from start to finish. I agree with Doherty, we could have had a few more hearings and debates on that one. To date only a few hundred have gotten the "civil union", so what would have been the big problem if more people got to weigh in on the issue?

Pro life... well MartinOne, be glad your mother made the choice she did.

Thanks to Inverso's retirement Bill Baroni is effectively out of the Senate race and Doherty has a clear path to the nomination. (Unless Leiter actually does run) While everyone on here seems to be arguing and bringing up the 2006 election, they forget that no Republican won a statewide seat from an incumbent. Tom Kean Jr. was the closest Republican to taking out a Democratic Senate seat and his loss had nothing to do with his moderate stance on the issues. He ran in the wrong year to run and had the wrong message. He also isn't the greatest of speakers, although he really is a nice guy.

The good thing about Doherty is he is a strong passionate speaker and will almost certaintly rally the conservatives behind him. Too bad most of the people in New Jersey are independents and socially liberal. Lautenberg's campaign will feed on Doherty's right to life, pro-gun, very conservative stance. And while Baroni is also pro-life, it would be very interesting to see him challenge Lautenberg because of his pro-union views and his popularity among Independent voters in his district. I could just envision a race where Baroni would be knocking on doors throughout the state of New Jersey while Frank is laying down in his Manhattan apartment.

One thing's for sure, while I disagree with some of Doherty's very conservative stances on all the issues, I'd rather have him represent New Jersey then some 83 year old dinosaur who is on his way to being Strom Thurman number two. Doherty's youth and enthusiasm is his biggest strength against the old rambling Lautenberg. Unfortunately the people in this state really like Lautenberg (must have been that Rutgers game on Cablevision deal he did), and the really conservative Doherty's message will fail with the independents. Even if he tones it down, his record speaks for itself, and I'm sure that $2 million dollars worth of campaign advertising by Lautenberg will mention this over and over and over again.

Hey MartinOne, what are you smoking.  I'd like to have some!

Frank IS a winner. He hasn't lost a race, probably because on the political spectrum he is probably just about at where NJ as a whole is. Anyone who says otherwise is pretty much kidding themselves.

Perhaps 2008 will be the first time that someone exposed this limousine liberal snob for the Pinko that he really is. All of Lautenberg's opponents: Fenwick, Dawkins, Haytaian and Forrester were afraid of attacking the Senator's 100% far-left nut wing liberal voting record which is why they lost. Does anyone really think that New Jersey wants a Senator who will support bleeding heart federal judges, higher income taxes, silly mass transit boondoggles, more government welfare programs or amnesty for illegal aliens? Yet none of these issues have ever been raised against Senator Dinosaur. Hopefully 2008 will be different. Doherty's got a pair of balls and the Democrats know it. He scares them -- and the liberal Nevill Chamberlain wing of the GOP -- more than anyone will admit.

I like Mike as a person and his brand of politics. I've known him since his first (unsuccessful) run for assembly back in 1999.

He did a great job as Warren County Freeholder, standing up to the whims of a Superior Court Judge that could have landed him in jail. The guy has the balls that the NJGOP is lacking.

Can he be elected in a statewide general election? I really don't know. I know that I would like to see him in DC. We love him in the district.

If he doesn't run for US Senate, he should be the state GOP Chairman. With Mike's enthusiasm and intelligence the party could quickly be reorganized into a formidable force again.

1) Iraq policy is not on the agenda state wide     this year. No Kean, No Menendez talking     about the war.
2) Issues are all local. Taxes, ethics, corruption,     Loss of real jobs, growth in Gov Jobs,      excessive Gov Pensions,Illegals, etc
This years theme is that half of the bums left before they were caught and the rest wereto stupid or greedy and arrogant to leave.
So lets kick them all out now

This guy has no chance. Way too conservative for NJ.

For those of us who want to learn more about Doherty's positions, that is, when he isn't trying to write discrimination into state law or trying to force womens' bodies to become property of the state, I've written a profile of his ideological leanings here:
http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4612

MartinOne, Wow, a profile of a conservative on a liberal pro-gay, pro-abortion, anti-war website. Yea, that profile will be fair.

Do you ever get tired of repeating the same regurgitated rhetoric over and over without being able to back it up with any substance? All you do here is repeat yourself.

Say something substantive here for once.

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

He's not as squeaky clean as he seems.

Harold is geting out the mud! When you can't win on issues it's time to get dirty....

Doherty was "squeaky" clean enough to be nominated for West Point by Peter Rodino, and also clean enough to have a top secret clearance as a military nuclear operations officer.

I'll leave it at that.

Mike has got the stones to make a great Senate candidate and US Senator. He will actually run as a Republican, which the party establishment in this state forget they are. I agree with Mountaintop, it should be fun watching Liberal Lautenberg defend his Marxist views in debates with Mike.

On 11/20/02, Doherty's hometown newspaper, The Express-Times reported, "There were also reports of an argument between Doherty and Freeholder John DiMaio, also a Republican, during which Doherty allegedly physically threatened DiMaio."

How about the Express-Times on 3/14/03.  "He said Giaimis felt Doherty 'personally threatened' Giaimis because of the OPRA request."

Face it, Doherty is a loose-cannon who doesn't have the temperment to be a U.S. Senator.

They immediately demonize and attempt to discredit any Republican they see as a threat to their uber left-wing agenda, whether it's Michael Doherty, Chris Christie, or Steve Lonegan.

The shallow, sanctimonious bloviators who run Blue Jersey and slanderous hate groups like Garden State Equality spend a lot of time and money attacking anybody with an R next to their name to hide the fact that the liberal politicians they support have destroyed and continue to destroy the state of New Jersey both ethically and economically and any Republican that wants to clean things up is immediately labled a right-wing nutjob, homophobic, zenophobic, racist, sexist and so on.

The fact is that these liberal whorehouse organizations care nothing about the state and everything about personal gain and they will say and do anything to protect the power they have amassed.

When will you whores ever get your fill?

"Any Nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one" -Alexander Hamilton

I've sat behind the Republican Assembly caucus on the floor and when the mics are off lets just say the words homophobic, zenophobic, racist, and sexist are pretty darn appropriate for some of them (not all of them, there are a few decent guys). That's not to say that some Dems aren't that way too, but they are the dinosaurs who don't make it into leadership positions and will eventually go away.