Andy Unanue

A statement from Murray Sabrin's spokesman George Ajjan on Andy Unanue's decision to leave the U.S. Senate race:

"Andy Unanue's ridiculous candidacy had been going downhill ever since he launched it from the ski slopes of Vail, and now that it has officially flopped, Tom Wilson and the failed GOP party bosses have finally reached the letter Z in their rolodex with Dick Zimmer."

Andy Unanue has dropped his bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination and has headed back to his vacation in Vail, giving his Committee on Vacancies the opportunity to replace him on the ballot, according to several sources familiar with the GOP campaign. Former Rep. Dick Zimmer said today that he would run for the Senate if asked.

But Bergen County GOP Chairman Rob Ortiz, a Unanue friend, says that no decision on a withdrawal has been made.

"Andy let us know that he's been reexamining his business commitments and talking with his accountants and business partners.  He has not made a decision, but wanted to keep us apprised so we have options available if he ultimately chooses to withdraw his name. He has not made a decision," said Ortiz. "He understands the time constraints and will make a decision very soon. Nobody has asked Andy to step down.  The party leaders have always been and continue to be very supportive of his candidacy."

Sabrin Challenges Pennacchio and Unanue To Debates Throughout NJ

If the reports are accurate – frankly, there has been so much confusion over the last six weeks that it’s hard to believe any of this – Republicans may have found a credible U.S. Senate candidate in Dick Zimmer. 

Multiple Republican sources say Andy Unanue is preparing to drop out of the Republican U.S. Senate race and will be replaced by former Congressman Dick Zimmer.

The arrangement is not final, but Unanue has reportedly agreed to drop his candidacy, while Zimmer has said that he will replace him.

Unanue’s three member committee on vacancies has until next Wednesday to officially change candidates.

Unanue could not be reached for comment, but Zimmer said that he has been contacted by several Republicans about the prospect and has agreed to run if he can count on a lot of support.

“I’ve received a number of phone calls from people who are interested in my running,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a done deal, and I’ve said that if asked I would run. I’m proud of my record of accomplishment as a Congressman, and I would like to put it up against Frank Lautenberg’s.”

The Republican U.S. Senate primary appears to have settled down a bit -- at least for now – with a decision by Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. that he won’t run statewide this year.  The deadline for replacing candidates on the ballot is tomorrow, and with Kean and John Crowley saying no over the last four days, the GOP field appears to be exactly where it was two weeks ago: Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, and Murray Sabrin, the leader of Ron Paul’s New Jersey campaign.  This has the makings of a competitive primary: Unanue has organization lines in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean, while Pennacchio has the lines in Bergen, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem and Somerset (and the support of GOP County Chairmen in Morris and Warren, which have open primaries).  Sabrin has the organization endorsement in Gloucester County.

Even after today’s filing deadline, it seems like everybody still wants to change the candidates in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. At least a few high ranking Republican activists are hoping that they can convince Goya Foods heir Andy Unanue to drop out, but his friend and advisor, Bergen County Republican Chairman Rob Ortiz, said that’s not going to happen.

“Andy has no intention of stepping down,” he said.

Unanue, entered the race just two weeks ago as the party’s darling but quickly fell from grace amidst questions about his residency and allegations stemming from an intra-family business dispute.

Some Republicans say that Unanue is upset at the national Republicans’ all out effort to push biotech millionaire John Crowley into the race, which went so far as to have John McCain and Rudy Giuliani call him and urge him to run.  What’s unclear is whether that anger will make Unanue more or less likely to forego his run.

According to Ortiz, however, Unanue isn’t mad.

Signatures on petitions for U.S. Senate:

Rob Andrews: 5,970
Frank Lautenberg: 4,950
Murray Sabrin: 1,690
Donald Cresitello: 1,384
Andy Unanue: 1,379
Joseph Pennacchio: 1,370

U.S. Senate candidate Andy Unanue, who lives on Central Park West in New York City, listed a Post Office Box in Colonia as his address on nominating petitions filed today with the state Division of Elections.  Unanue says he keeps his cars at his parents home in Bergen County.

There is some buzz among Republican insiders that Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. is giving some consideration to entering the U.S. Senate race.  Kean, who ran against Sen. Bob Menendez two years ago, could still get in the race even though the filing deadline was five hours ago.  If Andy Unanue drops out, his Committee on Vacancies could assign his nominating petitions to Kean.