Greenstein would like Baroni's seat if he becomes U.S. Attorney

DENVER -- Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) made the calculations and passed up a run for state Senate against Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) in District 14 last year. But with all the buzz surrounding Baroni’s future if John McCain is elected president, there may be a short cut to the Senate for Greenstein.

Baroni, who’s leading the McCain campaign in New Jersey, would likely be a leading candidate for U.S. Attorney under the McCain Administration (providing current U.S. Attorney Chris Christie leaves the post). That would allow Greenstein, a popular incumbent, a legitimate shot at the higher chamber in a special election.

“I would like to move up to the Senate. Obviously if the people of my district would like me to,” she said.

But Greenstein doesn’t think that scenario will come about, especially not from her seat in the New Jersey delegation overlooking the Pepsi Center's floor.

“I know it’s just a guessing game, but we’re not going to come to that because Barack is going to win,” she said.

Still, Greenstein thinks Baroni would make a fine U.S. Attorney.

“He’s interested in a lot of the same issues that Chris Christie is interested in and that I’ve been interested in. I think he probably would be a good US Attorney,” she said. “But it will never happen.”

Correction: The original story unintentionally did not include the word "if" in the sentence "Obviously if the people of my district would like me to."