September 26, 2008 - 1:18pm
News

Zimmer to search for Lautenberg

Former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer would like to find his way to the U.S. Senate.  But first, he wants to find incumbent Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Frustrated at the Senior Senator’s refusal to engage him in any debates just yet, Zimmer has decided to embark on a diner tour where he’ll ask patrons if they’ve seen or heard from Lautenberg, and to give out some tongue-in-cheek campaign literature. 

“A number of newspaper editorials have asked, ‘Where is Senator Lautenberg hiding?’  I intend to help find our missing Senator by handing out missing-person flyers at diners throughout New Jersey,” said Zimmer. 

On Wednesday, Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson held a press conference daring Lautenberg, 84, to “come out of hiding” and prove he’s not too old to run.  Wilson claimed that Lautenberg was laying low to avoid making embarrassing gaffes. 

Lautenberg’s campaign responded that Lautenberg has been doing the peoples’ business in Washington and campaigns when his schedule permits.  While Lautenberg has not committed to any debates yet, he has held that he will debate at some point. 

Zimmer starts his tour tomorrow morning at the River Edge Diner in Bergen County.  On Sunday, he’ll move on to the Townsquare Diner in Rockaway Township and the Empire Diner in Parsippany.

Lautenberg spokeswoman Julie Roginsky said that if Zimmer wants to find Lautenberg this weekend, he’ll have better luck looking in Washington, DC. 

“Frank Lautenberg’s busy in Washington working on the financial bailout package,” she said.  “As much as he’d like to meet Dick Zimmer in diners, there are more pressing issues for Frank Lautenberg to be worried about right now.”

MATT FRIEDMAN is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

Comments

did you look in Old Tappan ?


Under Ferrieros Bed or in Ferrieros closets?

09/26/08 3:17 pm

OK, this one is laughable


Zimmer's going to go to diners "asking" if anyone has seen or heard from Lautenberg? And this drawing attention to what?? That he is in DC, working?

09/26/08 3:43 pm

OK, this one is laughable


Zimmer's going to go to diners "asking" if anyone has seen or heard from Lautenberg? And this drawing attention to what?? That he is in DC, working?

09/26/08 3:43 pm

OK, this one is laughable


Zimmer's going to go to diners "asking" if anyone has seen or heard from Lautenberg? And this drawing attention to what?? That he is in DC, working?

09/26/08 3:43 pm

I like it!


best tactic from Zimmer so far!

09/26/08 4:18 pm

in DC working?


hey dcdem,

first, stop stuttering.

second, if you consider making sure the food tastes ok and the liquor is of the right vintage, then "yes," Frank is working hard for us.

09/26/08 4:53 pm

MIA


Young Franky boy was MIA long before the bailout was putting the country's legislators to work. Me thinks that Mr. Laughenberg is using this bailout as an excuse. Well done Zimmer campaign, this is just the kind of campy, grassroots campaigning that gets people talking!

09/26/08 5:17 pm

Where is Frank?


It is hilarious that nobody knows where our junior Senator is. His campaign keeps issuing the same statement as if lacking recent instructions from Frank. All they say is that Frank “has been doing the peoples’ business in Washington.” What is that business, I do not know. Now they added the following “Frank Lautenberg’s busy in Washington working on the financial bailout package.” I have not seen Frank on TV, so I doubt that he is there. Although, I am inclined to believe that like Secretary Paulson, Frank is desperate to keep his stock portfolio afloat on the backs of blue collar working taxpayers from New Jersey. Thank you, Senator for such devotion. How about donating your wealth to the blue collar working people of New Jersey? Wouldn’t it be something? Sen. Lautenberg would be true to his words about blue collar working taxpayers of New Jersey and how much he cares about them. By the way, have anybody seen Frank lately? O yes, I forgot. He is “doing the peoples’ business in Washington.”

09/26/08 7:39 pm

Menendez and Zimmer


Would be a much better balance for New Jersey.

09/27/08 1:22 am

Delivering on his primary campaign promise..


One of the things that struck me from Zimmer's primary win acceptance speech was a prediction of sorts: to look out for unorthodox methods of campaigning against Lautenberg.

He's delivering..and for a guy struggling with name recognition and an apathetic public..this is what needs to be done to bring attention to the race.

The Lautenberg cardboard cutout and the missing handouts are great ideas..let's see if they gain any ground. But at least there's more coverage of this race now.

09/27/08 1:30 am

Senator Dementia


????????????????????????Maybe he can't remember where he is?

09/27/08 2:29 pm

‘Where is Senator Lautenberg hiding?’


“A number of newspaper editorials have asked, ‘Where is Senator Lautenberg hiding?’

  

“Look in the GARBAGE CAN”...........

That's were I throw all my OLD TRASH!!!!!!!

 

09/27/08 2:26 pm

Where Senator Lautenberg is....


...in Washington, DC--working for the people of New Jersey. Ask anyone at a diner, and that is what you'll find, Lobbyist Dick Zimmer.

We know it must be frustrating for Lobbyist Zimmer to be met with a brick wall when trying to debate Senator Lautenberg. And a strong argument can be made that it is good policy to require debates between the candidates. But, Lobbyist Zimmer, in the real world of New Jersey politics, if no one is clamoring for debates it ain't gonna happen.

Maybe you can contact Senator Lautenberg through of your lobbyist friends, Lobbyist Zimmer.

Good luck with that. You're 10 points behind, with 38 days to go.

The fat lady has sung. You're toast. The sun has set. The cowboys have been riding into the sunset.

09/27/08 11:00 pm

Trash


Mr. Zimmer might be able to locate Senator Lautenberg if he removed his campaign out of the gutter.

YEAAAHHHH BOYYYEEEE!!!

09/29/08 3:44 pm

bboykush


Seems that you know where it is or is that just where you live?????????

09/30/08 11:22 pm

Passing of LOUSENberg


I am sorry I thought I was at a viewing for Mr. LOUSENberg and was informed it was actually a press conference...

Again sorry for the false alarm. Please recork your champagne and turn off the dance music. However, i have been informed by his doctors that his death is eminent!

10/01/08 10:02 am

Where is Scott Garrett Hiding???


Everyone in the state knows exactly who Lautenberg is.

Frank Lautenberg debated his primary opponent and let himself be seen, warts and all. Lautenberg has subjected himself to the full bright light of day and has passed the test.

Sure, Lautenberg is an old man, we all know that.

We also know his positions on the issues and why he holds those positions. AT this point there's nothing more left to discover about Frank Lautenberg, we all know who he is and what he stands for;
That's why Frank Lautenberg will beat Dick Zimmer on election day.

If you Republicans are really so hot on debates, why don't you urge stealth candidate Scott Garrett to be a man and to confront Dennis Shulman in a public debate?

Could it be that Scott Garrett's real beliefs and positions could not stand the light of public scrutiny???

From Frederick Douglass

If there is no struggle there is no progress......Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.

10/01/08 11:42 am

JustMeHere You Are a Shithead...at Best.


And a dangerous shithead, at worst.

You dare to openly wish for the death of Frank Lautenberg.

I suggest that the site owners submit your id data to the FBI.

Your ugly vicious verbiage is tantamount to a threat on the Senator's life and you should be checked out by the proper authorities.

From Frederick Douglass

If there is no struggle there is no progress......Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.

10/01/08 11:49 am

Lentil Bean


hmmmm...dead yes POLITICALLY ya moron...

Go back to your Daily KOS blog and dream about being on your knees servicing Bruce SpringSHIT in front of Barry Hussien Obama!

You are just more proof that liberalism is a mental disorder!

10/01/08 12:15 pm