Zimmer reflects on conventions past

U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer walked into the convention hall today and found something unusual: delegates were sitting relatively quietly.

“I’ve been to a lot of conventions, but this one is unlike any of the others. For one thing, we don’t know what’s going to happen day to day, and we’ve gotten a reality check,” said Zimmer. “There’s a world of politics, and there’s a world of real Americans who all of us are thinking of first right now.”

It was also the first time Zimmer encountered such a subdued mood the many conventions he’s attended. His first was in 1968 when Zimmer, then a law student who managed to get on the floor, watched as Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan jostled for the nomination. During that convention, some lesser-known candidates put their names in as well – including New Jersey Sen. Clifford P. Case.

“Here is something Wally Edge might know,” said Zimmer. “You know who made the nominating speech for Case? It was C. Douglas Dillon, who was in Kennedy’s cabinet.”

No New Jersey politicos have speaking spot lined up for the convention, but Zimmer will speak at an event held by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Zimmer said that he’s networking at the convention, and enlisted an old friend who’s finance chairman of a “major state” to help him out. He’ll need the help, since his fundraising totals are a fraction of Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg’s. But he won’t be chasing down National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign.

“John’s a friend and I don’t have to go say hi to him. I can call him whenever I want,” he said.