Rob Andrews appears to be entering the race for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, even though a DSCC poll shows him 35-points behind incumbent Frank Lautenberg. The ten-term Congressman from South Jersey had a rough day yesterday after expected endorsements from Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero and State Sens. Raymond Lesniak and Brian Stack failed to materialize (Ferriero, under considerable pressure, is now backing Lautenberg), but he’s staged a comeback with support from Newark powerhouse Steve Adubato, Jr., labor leaders Ray Pocino and Frank Spencer, three State Senators from Middlesex County, and State Sen. Paul Sarlo, a close Ferriero ally, who will back Andrews after an official announcement of candidacy.  Look for Stack and Lesniak to move to Andrews now that they have some cover, as well as Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Edison Mayor Jun Choi and more local officials from Middlesex.

Rob Andrews is having a tough second day as a candidate for the United States Senate.  A promised endorsement from Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero has fallen through – he can thank Steve Rothman for that – and all six of his Democratic House colleagues endorsed Frank Lautenberg, saying that they would run with him even in places where Andrews might have the organization line.  A pending endorsement from State Sen. Brian Stack, the Mayor of Union City, is not looking good, and State Sen. Raymond Lesniak – viewed as a possible Andrews backer – is keeping his endorsement to himself, at least so far today.  Andrews’ most public backer was Frank Spencer, the powerful head of the Carpenters union.

Jersey City Mayor and Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairman Jerramiah Healy said that he’s sticking with incumbent Frank Lautenberg if he faces a primary challenge from Rep. Rob Andrews.

Healy pointed to 2002, when Lautenberg stepped in to replace ethically troubled incumbent Sen. Robert Toricelli on the ballot.

There is considerable speculation among Democrats that Rob Andrews is about to secure some major endorsements for his U.S. Senate bid against Frank Lautenberg – possibly including State Senators Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Brian Stack (D-Hudson), and Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.  Update: Ferriero is faving tremendous pressure to back Lautenberg.

            TRENTON – Senator Brian Stack, D-Hudson and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, reacted today to Governor’s Corzine’s austere Budget Address:

            “I commend Governor Corzine for his continued dedication to getting New Jersey’s financial house in order.  It is clear we still have a long way to go, but we are on the right path to fiscal discipline and responsible budgets.

The Hudson County peace agreement was meant to be formalized in Jersey City today, with virtually every major elected official in the county coming together the put the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) together again.

This morning, citing scheduling conflicts among several officials, the HCDO postponed the event to an unscheduled time next week. But multiple sources say that the real reason the presser was cancelled was because the most important player – Union City Mayor and State Sen. Brian Stack – refused to attend.

Hudson County Democratic Organization Executive Director Craig Guy said, however, that Stack did not refuse to attend the press conference.

Senator Brian P. Stack today predicted the new law he sponsored to authorize cameras at dangerous red-light intersections for a five-year statewide pilot program will sharply reduce accidents and save many lives.

"It's just taking advantage of human nature to increase safety," said Senator Stack, D-Hudson. "People drive more carefully when they know someone?s watching."

Barack Obama may have rallied thousands of Jersey City residents on Mayor Jerramiah Healy's turf last week, but the Hillary Clinton campaign sought to make one thing clear today: the bulk of Hudson County public officials are with them, even if Healy, the mayor of the county's biggest city and chairman of its party, is not.

Governor Jon S. Corzine and Sen. Bob Menendez headlined a press conference today at The Turning Point restaurant in their hometown of Hoboken, emceed by Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan and attended by over two dozen elected officials, at least a few of whom occupy different sides of the Hudson County Democratic split.

And while Clinton wasn't there today, Menendez promised that she would be in New Jersey before the February 5th.

Joe Ferriero vs. Loretta Weinberg; Brian Stack vs. Sal Vega; Glenn Paulsen vs. Diane Allen; Glenn Paulsen vs. Mike Warner; Vivian Stringer vs. Don Imus; James E. McGreevey vs. Dina Matos McGreevey; Anthony Coley vs. Ivette Mendez; Dick Codey vs. Ken Zimmerman; Dick Codey vs. George Zoffinger; Kevin O’Toole vs. Kevin Collins; Upendra Chivukula vs. Seema Singh; Karen Kominsky vs. Christie Davis Jackson; Bill Gormley vs. Sonny McCollough; Bill Pascoe vs. Maryannie Harper; Skip Hidlay vs.Ellen Karcher; Izod vs. Prudential; Guy Talarico vs. everybody.

READ THE POLITICKERNJ.COM 2007 YEAR-END REVIEW

STACK TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, TAX RELIEF AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES

TRENTON – Senator Brian P. Stack was sworn in today to a four-year term as State Senator and pledged to focus on “education reform, property tax relief and the needs of the people” of his 33rd Legislative District.”

“I’ll be monitoring the new school funding formula and working to improve it to make sure it helps all children and doesn’t pull back on serving the needs of Abbott Districts,” said Senator Stack.