Donald Cresitello

[img_assist|nid=18131|title=Frank Lautenberg, 84, won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, defeating Rob Andrews by a wide margin|desc=Getty Images Photo|link=none|align=none|width=420|height=265]

Incumbent Frank Lautenberg has won renomination for a fifth term in the United States Senate. He leads Rep. Rob Andrews by a 61%-34% margin. Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello is running a weak third with 5% of the vote. Lautenberg won huge margins in Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic counties, carried Middlesex and Union comfortably, and held his own in several South Jersey counties.

In the GOP primary, former Rep. Dick Zimmer leads State Sen. Joe Pennacchio by a 46-40% margin. Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin has 14% of the vote.

Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello acknowledges he's basically doomed to lose his long shot Democratic Senate primary race against Rep. Rob Andrews and incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

But the race might be a win for his political reputation.

Cresitello was already known to many New Jerseyans before he entered the race, and not because he unsuccessfully challenged Lautenberg in the Senate primary way back in 1982.  Rather, it was his status as the state's most outspoken critic of its immigration policies and for his controversial attempt to deputize local police to enforce federal immigration laws.

Cresitello's fight against illegal immigration, and a rally he hosted in Morristown that saw one violent outburst, earned him the reputation of a blowhard among the state's political establishment, both Democrats and Republicans.  His stance even put him at odds with U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who's seen as the Republicans' likely choice for Governor next year.

Can’t wait until tomorrow night to see who wins the major U.S. Senate and Congressional primary contests?

Below are some predictions from pollsters, political science professors and observers who track Garden State politics.

The observers were unanimous in their predictions for the Democratic Senate primary, foreseeing a relatively easy victory for incumbent Frank Lautenberg. On the Republican end, the outlook was not so clear cut, with observers split between state Sen. Joe Pennacchio and former Rep. Dick Zimmer. Ramapo College Finance Professor Murray Sabrin will have the support of presidential candidate Ron Paul’s fans, and could take some conservative voters away from Pennacchio.

In the heated Republican primary in the 7th congressional district, state Sen. Leonard Lance is the clear favorite. The 3rd district congressional primary, however, is a toss-up. In what has been perhaps the nastiest race of the election cycle, it was tough decide who had the edge between Medford Mayor Chris Myers and Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly.

These races will likely be determined by a very small number of voters. Even the most optimistic of outlooks puts voter turnout at approximately 30%, and most say they expect significantly less than that.

Both sides spun hard after tonight’s Democratic Senate Primary debate on 101.5 FM, each trying to depict the other as inconsistent and deceptive.

But while experts - including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) himself in the midst of the radio scrap - agree that U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) is a formidable debater and was tonight, at no time during the hour and a half long forum just days prior to the June 3 primary did the senator deep-six himself.

"I thought Andrews acquitted himself very well and if this was an open seat he’d be odds on favorite," said Prof. Patrick Murray of Monmouth University. "Lautenberg acted annoyed that anyone was challenging him. While Andrews focused on detail, Lautenberg wanted to avoid answering questions directly."

Prof. Brigid Harrison of Montclair State University read it the same way.

With Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello complaining about two lawmakers who have had 22 Lautenberg(Lautenberg) and 18 (Andrews) years respectively and little to show in both cases, 101.5 moderator Eric Scott broaches the age issue.

The moderator asks U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews about his campaign ad dredging up the1982 war between U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and the late U.S. Rep. Millicent Fenwick. Lautenberg questioned Fenwick’s advanced age then and now Andrews is taking the same tack and Scott wants to know if Andrews believes Lautenberg is too old to serve.

The congressman twists the issue away from age.

"He’s not effective in the Untied State Senate," he says.

Lautenberg jumps all over him.

Andrews"He doesn’t recognize effectiveness when he see it," he says. "He hasn’t had any in the United States Congress."

Lautenberg proceeds to criticize Andrews for missing work to hit the campaign trail, suggesting that "maybe he’s running for the Guinness Book of Records for handshaking."

"You’ve been there 18 years and you have nothing to show for it," he adds. "It’s quite incredible."

But given the chance moments later, Andrews cites 15 legislative successes he’s had in this Congress alone. He includes in his answer his successful passage of a bill protecting soldiers against terrorist attacks on military bases, and another which closes an Enron loophole.

The candidates get a chance to discuss wages and wealth, and when Morristown Mayor Donald CresitelloEric Scott asks U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg what the minimum wage should be, the senator responds, "One can’t place a dollar figure on it."

Pressed by Scott, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews says the minimum wage should be between $15 - $16 an hour, and Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello marks it at $15-$20.

The congressman tries to distinguish himself from Lautenberg on taxes. He says he would repeal taxes for people making over $350,000 annually.

"The senator said he would ‘examine’ tax cuts," Andrews notes.

Moderator Eric Scott interrogates U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews on his support for Gov. Jon Corzine’s plan to Andrewsincrease tolls over a number of years by 800%. Does he still support it?, the debate moderator wants to know.

Lautenberg"No, because now the governor doesn’t support it either," says Andrews.

The congressman goes on to say that the state has a whining problem. Politicians whine about problems but don’t do anything to solve them.

"The governor stood up and attacked the problem, my friend the senator sounded like Republicans who whined about the problem," says Andrews.

AndrewsU.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg blasts away at U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, urging him to tell the truth about his involvement in the Iraq War, but with the help of Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, Andrews flips the issue back on the senator by the end of the exchange.

Lautenberg was not in the Senate in 2002, and Andrews helped craft the resolution authorizing Bush to take America to war.

Lautenberg"I didn’t vote for it," Lautenberg says. "At the time I said I might consider voting for it. I didn’t have the benefit of the briefing. I never would I have voted for that war. Congressman Andrews went right to it."

Proud of his opposition to the war from the beginning, Cresitello says, "The senator is misleading the people of New Jersey. They are both responsible for a war costing us $12 billion a month."

Now Andrews heads straight at Lautenberg.

"The senator has just completely misrepresented his position," says the congressman."He said Colin Powell has laid to rest any doubts

The New Jersey 101.5 U.S. Senate debate is now underway in the station's Ewing studio.

Eric Scott, vice-president of news, hosts the showdown featuring U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and his challengers U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) and Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello taking phone calls from New Jersey voters.

Lautenberg gives his opening statement, hitting four broad ambitions: ending the Iraq War, improving the economy, attacking global warning and working to achieve energy independence.

Impressed by the senator’s political perspective and his work to secure greater federal commitment to mass transit and Amtrak, The New York Times today endorsed U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) for re-election over U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) and Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello.

"What really matters is that he has not lost his enthusiasm for sensible, progressive causes," the editorial notes of the 84-year old senator, also citing Lautenberg’s work to protect chemical plants from terrorist attacks.

Writing Cresitello off as not a serious candidate, The Times criticizes Lautenberg and Andrews for voting in favor of the 2006 law that suspended habeas corpus for "illegal enemy combatants," which both lawmakers now admit was a mistake.

But the newspaper is pointedly critical of Andrews regarding his work leading up to the Iraq War.