Andy Unanue

Camden County Republicans have endorsed Andy Unanue for U.S. Senate, putting the Goya Foods millionaire on the organization line in the June 3 GOP primary. GOP County Chairman Rick DeMichele said he decided on the endorsment after consulting with his municipal chairs and elected officials.

From Colorado, Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue seems upset with John Crowley, who still hasn’t let him know if he’s in or out of the race for U.S. Senator.  Unanue told some Republican leaders today that now he is not likely to defer to Crowley. 

Some Republican leaders, especially those who have expressed the greatest interest in John Crowley’s candidacy, are voicing some frustration this afternoon as they await a final decision of the biotech millionaire’s decision on a bid for the U.S. Senate.

United States Senate candidate Joe Pennacchio wants to make it clear that, even if Princeton biotech executive John Crowley gets into the race, he’s sticking it out until the June 3rd primary.

“The only constant in this entire race, with the 15 or two dozen people who have been in and out and in again, is Joe Pennacchio and his campaign,” he said. “I will be there June 3rd, so I welcome everybody and a vigorous campaign based on issues.”

Although Republican sources said that some Pennacchio campaign staffers were giving thought to throwing in the towel at the prospect of a Crowley candidacy, those close to Pennacchio insist that he never considered it himself. Instead, he spent Sunday going door-to-door in Newark, Orange, East Orange and South Orange to shore up support in areas Republicans generally give up for lost.

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is now close to entering the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, after receiving calls from several GOP Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, urging him to run, according to Republican sources.

Other sources said that Crowley spoke with one Republican Senate candidate, Andy Unanue, tonight and told him that he is now likely to run. Unanue has told some GOP leaders that he would withdraw from the race if Crowley gets in.

Crowley spoke at length today with Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who urged him to run and committed resources if he does. At least five other Republican Senators also reportedly lobbied Crowley, whose efforts to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that affects two of his three children has caused Republican leaders to view the political newcomer as a potentially strong Senate candidate.

State Sen. Bill Baroni endorsed Goya Foods heir Andy Unanue for U.S. Senate tonight, just an hour before the Mercer County Republicans’ executive committee meets to endorse a Senate candidate.

PolitickerNJ.com was wrong -- GOP U.S. Senate candidate Andy Unanue is still in Vail on a ski vacation with his family. A housekeeper at his parents home in Alpine confirmed that the Goya Foods millionaire, who entered the U.S. Senate race from Colorado on Easter Sunday, won't be back in New Jersey until Friday. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our readers.

Just so Republicans don't feel left out today: one of their U.S. Senate candidates, Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue, has been back from Vail for three days, but still hasn't found his own New Jersey residence. He told reporters last week that he was a New York resident, but planned to move back to New Jersey soon.  Has he spent the last few nights at his parents home in Alpine, or at his bachelor bad on Central Park West. 

Crowleymania '08 is overRepublican sources say that John Crowley’s decision not to run for the United States Senate in 2008 is final, despite considerable lobbying by some GOP leaders to get the biotech millionaire in the race. Sources say that Crowley, who appeared to be in the race on Friday and then announced on Monday that he would not be a candidate, was indeed reconsidering his candidacy. That leaves the Republican field at State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue, and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin.

In the state's most Democratic county, Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango today announced that his organization is awarding the primary ballot line to U.S. Senate candidate Andy Unanue.

“Andy Unanue is the change New Jersey needs in the U.S. Senate,” Arango said.  “He brings youth and energy along with the traditional Republican principles of lower taxes and smaller government.  Hudson County is proud to endorse Andy Unanue for U.S. Senate.”