April 11, 2008 - 3:55pm
Zimmer enters Republican primary for U.S. Senate
By Matt FriedmanAs former Congressman Dick Zimmer formally entered the Republican U.S. Senate race today, he essentially becomes the third candidate to fill a single candidacy.
First there was Anne Estabrook. Andy Unanue took her place after she suffered a minor stroke. Zimmer jumped in to the race after Unanue’s campaign disintegrated in less than three weeks.
Just as Unanue inherited most of the Estabrook campaign infrastructure – who had been paid a severance that lasted until the June primary while they waited for a candidate to take her place– Zimmer is poised to take over much of Unanue’s staff, including Campaign Manager Mark Duffy (though a few shake ups are expected).
But first, Zimmer will have to face a challenge from rival Republican candidate Joe Pennacchio in the primary.
Today, Zimmer issued a simple statement declaring his candidacy, to be followed by a formal campaign kickoff sometime later this month (which Unanue, who announced his candidacy while on vacation in Vail, Colo., never had).
"I am honored to have the opportunity to run for the United States Senate. I have lived in New Jersey all my life. I raised my family here,” said Zimmer, a Washington lawyer/lobbyist who lives on a farm in Hunterdon County. “This is a critical time for the people of my home state and for all Americans. We need to strengthen our economy, keep our families safe and meet our challenges around the world. I am running for the United States Senate to ensure that New Jersey's future is one of opportunity, affordability and hope."
Zimmer has surfaced as the choice of the GOP establishment. He is poised not only to inherit the Estabrook/Unanue staff, but also the nine county lines won by Unanue. The two lines won by Pennacchio over the course of the last two months – Hunterdon and Somerset – could soon turn over to Zimmer.
Zimmer has also spoken with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign, who supports his candidacy, according to his friend and consultant Larry Weitzner. (The NRSC remains officially neutral in primary elections, though Ensign had given his personal support to Estabrook and Unanue).
Cape May County Chairman David Von Savage said that Zimmer definitely has his county’s line, and he expects other chairmen to follow through as well.
“He’s going to have Cape May’s line, and since Andy has endorsed Zimmer, I think it adds that much more certainty that the lines Andy had will be transferred to the former Congressman,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pennacchio has filed a challenge to the board of elections, saying that Unanue did not sign his campaign oath “in good faith” and therefore Zimmer’s candidacy is invalid.
“I don’t have any problems with Dick Zimmer the man. It’s just the candidacy we have an issue with,” said Pennacchio. “That candidacy stems from the candidacy of someone who was just a placeholder. I don’t think that’s what the law is – that you could have a designated placeholder and make up your mind about it afterwards.”
Democrats are already sharpening their attacks, referring to Zimmer as a “lobbyist and Newt Gingrich acolyte who couldn’t win a 1996 U.S. Senate race against Democrat Bob Toricelli, or a 2000 Challenge against incumbent 12th district Democratic Rep. Rush Holt.”
"Republicans are getting pretty desperate when the only candidate they can find is a Washington lobbyist whose most famous accomplishment in Congress was helping write Newt Gingrich's Contract with America,” said Matt Miller, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Spokesman.
Ken Kurson, a spokesman for the Zimmer campaign, shot back, “The DSCC must see how vulnerable Frank Lautenberg is and what a terrific candidate Dick Zimmer will make for them to have issued such a ludicrous statement in such a frenzied way.”
The 1996 Senate race has gone down as one of the nastiest in state history, according to Ingrid Reed, Director of the Eagleton Institute’s New Jersey Project.
If Zimmer goes on to win the Republican nomination – which this late in the game is no sure thing – it will be interesting to see how different this race will be than the one from 12 years ago.
“That race was one that really seemed to make New Jerseyans, for the first time, sort of say ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with this,’” Reed said. “I think this is a different time. It’s 10 years later, and it also is the primary.”
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Poll
Of the Republicans who mulled U.S. Senate bids, who would have run strongest against Frank Lautenberg?
Kip Bateman
11%
John Crowley
11%
Anne Evans Estabrook
22%
Joe Kyrillos
44%
Joe Pennacchio
11%
Murray Sabrin
0%
Andy Unanue
0%
Dick Zimmer
0%
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Quote of the Day
October 14, 2008
"They would never put me through. So this one time in September I called and said, 'Is Jon there?' And the lady says, 'Who is calling?' And I say "George.' She says, "George who?' I say, "George Norcross.' Right away I was talking to Jon Corzine. I asked him, 'How can you take a call and talk to George Norcross but not the average New Jersey citizen?'" -- West Deptford GOP candidate Michael Krawitz, who pretended to be South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross in order to reach Gov. Jon Corzine.
-Associated Press, 10/14/08
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Zimmer's tough....that's why we need Andrews
Zimmer vs. Lautenberg would be an interesting race.
I think Andrews would beat him handily though.
Two issues
How can he claim residency in NJ when he works full-time in DC?
How is he going to run away from being stuck with the lobbyist negative label?
Anybody know who he has represented?
Because residency is not
the same as where you work. Technically speaking, all of the New Jersey Congressmen and Senators work full time in D.C. But they still, for the most party, reside in NJ>
Funny
It is funny in a sad sort of way how political endorsements and structures can be passed from one candidate to the other in a blink of any eye. And it is all possible because of the NJ Republican leadership.
In reality it is the leadership which is running in the primary and they are just looking for a name to put on the ballot. How else can a whole campaign staff, all the county lines, and endorsements both local and national so easily transfer between candidates that have absolutely nothing in common. A Hispanic businessman from NY with no political experience and a pocket full of cash and a former Congressman from NJ currently working as a lobbyist in DC. The former had no known stances on any issues and the latter has a long voting record.
The signs are all there. It is the Republican leadership running against Pennacchio and Sabrin.
Sean Colon,
Editor, NJ Libertarian News, www.njlibertariannews.com
GOP STATE LEADERS HAVE NO SHAME
What kind of scam is this anyway?
Why did all these State leaders like Baroni and the 7 shady chairman endorse Andy A? Just to hold the seat for this guy?
You don't think the Dems won't use this under handed tactic in the fall?
This is almost as bad as the switcheroo the Dems pulled in 2002 with Toricelli. I am ashamed to be aligned with any State GOP leader who had a hand in this.
Honestly, how can some one just jump in now? To really win a US Senate seat or have any chance, I would think you plan it for over a year. If Zimmer really wanted to run he would have been out there with the rest late fall 2007.
The bottom line is Zimmer didn't get one signature and the people who signed the other petition for Andy A. didn't sign for Zimmer.
The word for that is fraud.
The Law
There is a significant difference between what the Dems did in 2002 and this - the law. Democrats didn't like the law so they went to court and a stacked Supreme Court decided (SURPRISE) to create law instead of enforce what was plainly clear in the statute. In this instance, the law is equally as clear in providing for a Committee on Vacancies. The filing deadline was Monday - anyone is free to enter the race up until 4 pm on filing deadline. The law was followed here in every instance. As for the endorsements, Zimmer is someone well known to these folks (certainly as well known as Pennachio or Sabrin). Staff is staff...they work on campaigns and need employment to pay their bills. Not fair at all to take potshots at them.
Long live to ... lobbyists!
Apparently, back to the USSR Chairmen and desperate GOP establishment settle down on Washington, D.C. lobbyist. The same lobbyist is going to reform the same Washington, D.C. by storm in the name of good people of NJ. Did anybody sing the International yet?
What I do not get is why Jersey Joe and Dr. Sabrin cannot be accepted? After all, they played by the rules of GOP Democracy. Yes, I get it now. It is the back to the USSR Chairmen Democracy not the rank and file Republicans Democracy.
No wonder, we need a lobbyist to lay it out for us.
Long live to lobbyist!
I AM WAITING....
We haven't heard from The Big Mouth, Adam Puharic yet:
The same guy who said Joe Kyrillos should be the nominee,
Then he said Anne Estabrook should be the nominee,
Then he said Joe Pennacchio should be the nominee,
Then he said Rudy Giuliani should be the nominee,
Then he said Andy Unanue should be the nominee,
Then he said John Crowley should be the nominee....
Well, Chairman Puharic - SHOULD DICK ZIMMER BE THE NOMINEE now?
You guys are really a piece of work...
A few things here:
1) Unanue was not just a "placeholder". When he originally entered the race, before the heat came at him and the other mud, he did want to run in this race. My guess is once the heat really came at him he reconsidered and decided he didn't want to do it, or for whatever reasons. But his original candidancy was serious, and right before Crowley part II, I really think he was going to be in this race despite the heat that went at him. Heck, just a few days ago or so it was thought that he had no intention of dropping out, so despite what the critics think, there was at least some point where Unanue wanted to be a candidate in this race. How long it actually lasted is up to whoever you ask.
2) County lines really won't mean too much in a low turnout primary. Schundler won in 01' primary with very few county lines at all, Forrester won in 02' when Diane Allen had the majority of county lines. Everyone is making such a big deal out of what a few county chairs do. In the end, it's the voters who decide on June 3rd. Can anyone even understand that? Why are Sabrin and Pennacchio supporters worried about who gets what line? That doesn't look good for your candidate..especially if that candidate is also complaining about this as well. Take it from me, I still have no idea who I'm voting for! (It will not be Murray..though..sorry Sean).
3) Everything that has been done is legally fine. The Committee on Vacancies had until Wednesday to name a replacement, they have. There is no fraud. And don't whine about 1000 petition signatures, I'm sure a former congressman who ran statewide not too many years ago would have no problem getting 1000 petition signatures on his own.
4) Anybody who wants to attack Zimmer for being a lobbyist should also attack things like cancer research, autism awareness, breast cancer research, children's healthcare, the environment, the NRA (For all you conservatives out there), etc. Because they all have lobbyists. It's a job and hey at least it's not TAXPAYER FUNDED! The argument is really ineffective; just ask former Senator Ellen Karcher who must've called Jen Beck a lobbyist/legislator a million times. That worked out real well for her.
Can we just get on with the issues instead of all this nonsense that is going on.
The law is the law?
ok, so all the people who signed the petion for Andy A, should go to another guy they didn't even know was running?
Give me a break. That is BS no matter how any one spins it. The State GOP should be ashamed of itself as I previously posted.
I thought Republicans we were better then this. This past month was absolutely the the lowest, sneaky, double dealing I have ever seen by the so called leaders of this GOP party in NJ.
How can any partisan Republican in NJ defend this type of back room dealing to a democrat neighbor or friend?
How can we turn around in the fall and say we offer a better choice when we treat our County Committee people and primary voters like dumb sheep?
All of this makes me believe the intention from day one was just for Andy to hold the line.
First Andy was dropping out for Crawley now Zimmer. Conspriracy by an insider group from Day one just to hold that petition open until they found a candidate that will keep the checks flowing.
Last but not least, the remarks about campaign people needing a check are the funniest I heard all week. That gives a real insight to what really was going on here.
People get laid off all the time, that's life.
I don't feel sorry for a high priced poltical consultant out of work.
If your any good, you would be employed.
I don't get it!
Why arre the political hacks hell bent on finding another card carrying member of the Political has beens of the error of failure by our party?
The problem is they all want to keep the status quo so the jobs are secure. I think the filing date has passed so we go to the corrupt Supreme Court to bring on a change.
"Hollywood is a place whre thy'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe (She never knew how profound she was.)
PC....
The COV can name a replacement candidate up until Wednesday the 16th and they get the candidate's spot on the ballot obtained through 1000 plus petition signatures. The COV has named Zimmer.
Andy wasn't a placeholder on day one, like I said the fact is at some point he wanted to be a candidate for this race. How long is up for deliberation, but nobody would just enter a race with about a month to go just simply to be a placeholder. Camille Andrews is a placeholder, Andy Unanue wasn't. At that time the people that backed him and urged him to get in the race really thought he would be a great challenger. It didn't turn out that way and there wasn't much time for the process, but the general consensus was that he looked good on paper before all the dirt came out.
How are primary voters being treated like dumb sheep when something like 75-80% of voters in this state period don't know who the hell Joe Pennacchio or Murray Sabrin are? Just how many people are really paying attention to this race yet outside of those attending county conventions and reading politickerNJ? How are they being treated like dump sheep? THEY STILL HAVE A CHOICE ON JUNE 3rd! They Still will vote for the person they see best fit.
Clearly you think county lines mean everything when they don't. You'll get to vote for your choice on June 3rd, why the hell are you complaining? If Dick Zimmer entering this race is the death of your choice, then you believe your choice isn't the best candidate in the race and your worried he will lose.
And as soon as anybody brings a campaign staff into it, the race really gets pathetic. Focus on the candidates and what they are saying, stop complaining about what county chairman do and silly things like petition signatures. Start worrying about helping your candidate get his message out to as many primary voting republicans as they can; because they will decide this race, not county lines and not petition signatures. Am I getting through to anyone here?!
Mr. Eric: HAVE YOU EVER MET Andy Unanue?
Mr. Eric,
I read your posts every now and then (when I want a chuckle) and your comments speak as if you "are in the know".
Have you ever met Andy Unanue? When was the last time you spoke with Andy Unanue? What issues did he stand for that over 1,000 people signed his petitions? Andy Unanue never even had a website up, never issued one press release of where he stood on the issues, never spoke publicly his entire 3-week campaign, so how do you know what he stood for?
So please stop lecturing people on this website as if you know what you are talking about. If anyone were to go back and read your comments over the past three months or read your blogging on Red Jersey over the past three months, you would think you had a multiple personality disorder.
As much as you may have a problem with Dr. Murray Sabrin's campaign, your hypocrisy really shines as you try to defend these BANKRUPT and CORRUPT Republican Chairmen who are trying to steal the County Line's from Jersey Joe!
Take your blinders off Mr. Eric and stop drinking the cool-aid. When you wake up 10 years from now you will not want your reputation to be anywhere near Tom Wilson and his failed, corrupt regime.
You may prefer a moderate Republican candidate to run for the U.S. Senate and I appreciate your arguments for such a candidate. However, to defend these tactics of switching Unanue with Zimmer at the last minute and then stealing the lines from Jersey Joe - that is indefensible and should stop trying to defend it. If a moderate candidate had the guts and determination to earn the right to run he or she should have been out there making the case - but instead, Dick Zimmer showed he had ZERO courage!
SHAME on TOM WILSON!
SHAME on ROB ORTIZ!
SHAME on HERBERT KUHL!
SHAME on DALE FLORIO!
SHAME on GEORGE GILMORE!
and
SHAME on DICK ZIMMER for inserting himself into such a corrupt campaign!
Wow, Switch To Decaf Man..
Seriously, you might want to check your blood pressure.
I never acted like I'm in the know. All I said was it's the voters who decide on June 3rd, not county lines, which sort of works in your favor Mr. or Ms. Sabrinist. I mean that's if you have all those supporters that Sabrin claims to have.
And why are Murray people defending Jersey Joe? Weren't you the guys yelling with pitchforks about the "manifesto" and following your leader about pushing Joe to drop out? Now your going to defend him after your fearless leader did a big song and dance about a 17 year old document?
Gimme a break. Don't try and make this into establishment vs. Pennacchio. Pennacchio has the support of a number of county organizations, even if two switch and they'd only switch because Zimmer used to represent them in Congress and it's done through a meeting of the executive committee's. What's the big deal? If Joe's that great of a candidate he won't need the county lines. Bret Schundler didn't need the county lines in 2001. Doug Forrester didn't need the county lines in 2002.
Hell I might vote for Jersey Joe and it's got nothing to do with the fact that he's on the BCRO line. Then again I might vote for Zimmer, who I don't think will be on the line.
Zimmer has to get out there in the next two months, if anything he's at a disadvantage.
You guys seriously put so much emphasis on county lines and I really don't understand why. It's like saying the voters are so stupid in a Republican primary (the second one this year) that they'll just vote for the county endorsed candidate. I'm sure they really appreciate that message.
Mr Eric: I guess the answer to the question is "NO, I HAVE..."
NEVER MET ANDY UNANUE OR SPOKEN WITH ANDY UNANUE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!"
Don't you realize how ignorant this makes all of your previous comments?
Don't you realize you comment as if you are a little panzy for Tom Wilson and whatever they decide to do?
Take a step back and look at what the current Republican Leadership has done.
They now have YOU defending stealing County Lines from a candidate. Think about that for a moment. You are actually saying to the world through this blog it is okay for them to steal the Hunterdon and Somerset County Lines from Jersey Joe.
I think Jersey Joe would make a horrible U.S. Senator because he has not shown an ability to grasp the complex problems this country faces and we need a U.S. Senator who not only understands problems but comes to the table with proposed solutions.
But my disagreement with Jersey Joe the candidate has nothing to do with the sleazy tactics these Party Bosses are displaying.
After what I have seen this week, I am not looking for caffeine; I am looking for a double shot of Johnny Walker! Straight Up!
After what you have witnessed the past three months you should be looking for new Republican Leaders with integrity.
REMEMBER: You are putting your own Reputation on the line to support these corrupt Chairman. Please don't say no one warned you about it.
It is the economy stupid and finances, stupid
Let's rewind it again for some on this website. Even Wally Edge is strangely quiet on this topic.
So, it is the economy stupid and finances, stupid
Zimmer the farmer
Zimmer owns a farm in Hunterdon. Will the GOP take him to the woodshed for participating in the state farm program?
NJGOP deserves Sabrin
That's it the NJGOP has disappointed me for the last time. I'm moving to New York but keeping my car registered at my parent's house in Jersey and I'll vote from their address too. Then I'm going to my family's business drunk, or maybe just hung over and get fired. Then I'll go on vacation and get people to circulate petitions for me and when it's all said and done I'll sign the back of that petition where it says "...that I am a resident and a legal voter..." and declare my candidacy for US Senate in 2012. Then when my drunkenness and and NYC residency become public I'll let somebody else run in my place even though I lied when I signed the paper saying I was a resident.
Never mind, that's too much like work. I'll just move to Gloucester County and vote for Sabrin instead (though him winning that county is a whole other issue). After what the GOP has done with this race they deserve Sabrin.