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.”