John Crowley

Despite being poised to enter the Republican Senate primary race for the second time in two weeks, Princeton biotech executive John Crowley once again withdrew his name from consideration today.

“John was deeply impressed with the outpouring of support for his potential candidacy for the US Senate. Many people both locally here in New Jersey and nationally had been encouraging him to run over the past week, but given his tremendous level of responsibility to his family, his company and to the US Navy, he’s decided not to enter the US Senate race this year,” said Crowley’s friend and advisor, Bill Spadea. “I know there was a lot of legitimate anticipation that John would enter this race we’ve been upfront with the many obligations he has, and his decision had to come down to his family.”

With John Crowley out, Andy Unanue may stay in the raceJohn Crowley will not seek the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, and Andy Unanue is now reconsidering his decision to drop out of the race, as Republicans continue their quest to find a candidate to face off against the winner of the Frank Lautenberg vs. Rob Andrews primary.

Crowley, who wanted to run, has been unable to transition out of his role as President and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. He had announced last Monday that he would not run, and then reconsidered after GOP presidential candidate John McCain and NRSC Chairman John Ensign called and encouraged his candidacy.

Unanue, the millionaire heir to the Goya Foods fortune, appeared to be the leading candidate two weeks ago when, at the urging of several top party leaders, he entered the race on Easter Sunday. But his Senate bid suffered a series of setbacks: news that he lived in New York City, allegations associated with his firing at Goya, a drunk driving conviction, and his refusal to shorten his Vail ski trip to introduce himself to party leaders and voters. Unanue is still in Colorado.

The likely front runner now is State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, a Morris County Republican who has won organization support in Bergen, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem and Somerset counties. But national Republicans and several key state GOP leaders have been reluctant to back Pennacchio because of his perceived inability to raise the millions of dollars needed to mount a credible general election campaign, and because of issues relating to a controversial 94-page manifesto he wrote in 1991 that, among other things, suggested government camps for the homeless and the elimination of Medicaid.

There are signs this morning that John Crowley will not run for the United States Senate, citing an inability to transition out of his role as President and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.  Crowley, sources say, wants to enter the race before tomorrow’s filing deadline, but is finding it difficult -- perhaps impossible -- to get his company’s house in order in time for him to campaign for the Republican nomination.

Andy Unanue was expected to return from his ski trip in Vail yesterday, campaign aides had said, but Republican sources said today that the Goya Foods heir has decided not to return to New Jersey for now and will remain on vacation.  He was in Colorado on Easter Sunday when he announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for United States Senator.  He intends to drop out over the next few days.

The seven Republican County Chairmen where Andy Unanue has the organization line held a conference call today and agreed to endorse John Crowley for the United States Senate, according to several sources. Unanue has party organization support in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Hudson, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Mercer County voted this week to endorse Crowley if he runs, and sources say that Burlington County Republicans, who have not backed a new candidate since Anne Estabrook withdrew from the race, are also expected to support Crowley.

Sources say that State Sen. Kevin O’Toole, the Essex County GOP Chairman, strongly leans towards Crowley.

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio will have line in Bergen, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem, Somerset and Union counties. He also enjoys support of party leaders in Morris and Warren counties, which have open primaries.

Fed up with the negative tone of Murray Sabrin’s U.S. Senate campaign -- especially what has been described as excessive name-calling – Steve Lonegan has cancelled his appearance at a Sabrin fundraiser next week.  Lonegan, the former Mayor of Bogota and the leader of the state’s conservative wing, is a possible candidate for the 2009 GOP gubernatorial nomination.

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is still mulling a bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, according to his top political advisor.

“There has been no formal decision yet,” said Bill Spadea, who has been directing Crowley’s fledgling campaign. “From my perspective as John Crowley’s friend, I want to make sure he’s making a completely informed decision. We are thrilled that lots of folks are collecting signatures for John.”

Crowley announced on Monday that he would not run, but has reconsidered after calls from presidential candidate John McCain and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Republican sources say that Ensign told Unanue this week that Crowley is their first choice, and urged the Goya Foods heir to drop his Senate bid if Crowley runs. But Ensign pledged to support Unanue in a three-way contest with State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin.

Despite their late start, supporters of John Crowley for U.S. Senate appear confident that they'll surpass the 1,000 signatures needed to get on the June 3 Republican primary ballot. They have dozens of volunteers working today, visiting the homes registered GOP voters.

Mercer County GOP Chairman Roy Wesley is leading a weekend push to get signatures on John Crowley’s nominating petitions.   In an e-mail to Republicans, Crowley said he was “looking for volunteers to help gather petition signatures for John Crowley for U.S. Senate.”  A group of petition canvassers are meeting at the offices of Jamestown Associates at 10AM this morning to begin circulating the Crowley petitions.