Monmouth County GOP Chairman Adam Puharic wants Rudy Giuliani to run against Frank Lautenberg
In the aftermath of news that Anne Evans Estabrook would not run for the U.S. Senate, Monmouth county GOP Chairman Adam Puharic today said he was calling for an emergency meeting of Republican county chairmen to discuss the party’s options in nominating a candidate.

As for his own personal choice for a GOP senate candidate now that Estabrooks is out, Puharic said he would be happy joining a coalition of New Jersey Republicans calling on former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to enter the race, or "other talented Republicans."

But in the meantime, "Everybody needs to freeze until we have a chance to talk," said Puharic. "If a majority of the county chairs believe we should rally around state Sen. Joe Pennacchio, fine, but if a majority are not happy with the choices they have now, I beseech everyone not to rush to judgement."

Estabrook’s departure for the moment consolidates state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (D-Morris) as the frontrunner in a field that also includes economics Prof. Murray Sabrin.

Puharic said he would be convening a 10 p.m. conference call with the other county chairs to try to reach consensus.

"I’m trying to urge everybody not to make a decision," said Puharic. "This is new ground now, and I’m not convinced that we as of yet have all the candidates we need in making a thoughtful decision about challenging Sen. Frank Lautenberg."