Joseph Kyrillos

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth): Politicker photo 

As they find themselves once again among the general election ranks of their respective parties, two state senators in opposing camps still hope their first picks for president end up as running mates for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il).

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), former state chairman for the Romney campaign, believes Romney would be McCain’s best choice for vice president. Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex), meanwhile, hopes Obama picks Rice’s primary candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

"Hillary needs to be a match on that ticket to keep some perspective," said Rice. "We’re talking about 18 million votes for her, plus your Obama votes. That team could really keep people coming out in a general election. I feel he needs to identify a vice president, and it should be Hillary."

If Joseph Kyrillos doesn’t get picked to run for Lt. Governor in 2009, he’s likely to retire from the State Senate in 2011, according to a Monmouth GOP leader with knowledge of Kyrillos’ plans.  The six-term State Senator is actively seeking the LG nod, hoping to run on a ticket with his friend, U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin would be the front runner to succeed Kyrillos in the Senate -- though not at all automatic on the GOP side -- if the 13th district seat remains intact after redistricting.  If the seat is open, mapmakers could move State Sen. Jennifer Beck into District 13; her hometown, Red Bank, borders on the 13th.  That could boost the chances for Democrats to recapture the 12th district, where former State Sen. Ellen Karcher and former Assemblyman Michael Panter are mulling comebacks.

Speculation about who would run for lieutenant governor on a ticketGOP State Chair Tom Wilson with potential GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie amounts to a parlor room game, according to State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson.

U.S. Attorney Christie has not said publicly that he intends to challenge Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009, but the lawman who has a sterling record cracking down on public corruption remains the party’s superstar.

Gender. Geography. Ethnicity. All of these factors come into play when Republicans consider who could strongly stand with Christie as a candidate for lieutenant governor.

But ultimately, said Wilson, "If Chris is the nominee, his running mate for lieutenant governor has to be someone who shares his priorities and his sense of ethics."

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), left, confers with Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittell after economic growth hearing.

TRENTON - State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), who served as director of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, says the former Massachusetts governor would be a good pick as Sen. John McCain's running mate.

During the Republican primary, Romney and McCain disagreed on the Bush administration's policy regarding torture. On at least one occasion, the Arizona senator upbraided Romney for what he believed was his GOP rival's naivete in not taking a firmer stand against some methods employed by U.S. military and intelligence forces.

Democrats are anxious to reclaim the 12th legislative district, where Jennifer Beck ousted Ellen Karcher in the 2007 Senate race, and where a pair of Republicans occupies the two Assembly seats. The plan isn’t as much about 2009 (the conventional wisdom is that freshmen incumbents Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande will be tough to beat next year) as it is about 2011. Legislative districts will be redrawn after the 2010 census.

Monmouth County Republicans don’t anticipate any dustups tonight as two-year chairman Adam Puharic hands over the gavel to former Sheriff Joe Oxley.

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), dean of the Monmouth Republicans, has known Oxley since the two were ten and eleven years old. He calls the incoming chairman a “straight arrow,” who is well-qualified to help withstand what the Democrats promise will be a tough fight for two freeholder seats.

Control of the board is at stake this year.

MIDDLETOWN - Turbulence in the Republican Party caused state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) to more than once consider running for U.S. Senate in this current primary cycle.

He had a number of openings.

Citing health concerns, millionaire Anne Evans Estabrook last month dropped out of the Republican primary, sending the GOP scrambling to find a replacement. The party first recruited millionaire businessman Andy Unanue, while simultaneously trying to recruit millionaire businessman John Crowley.

Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMasoMonmouth County Republicans face an important decision at their convention on Wednesday night. In danger of losing control of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, GOP committee people have to decide whether Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso or Red Bank Councilman John Curley is the candidate who can win in November.

The Republicans have watched their rivals chip into their turf over the last two election cycles. Democrats edged one seat closer to seizing a majority in 2007 with John D'Amico's win.

There are two open seats this year, but Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, also a Republican, has the advantage of incumbency, meaning either DiMaso or Curley also needs to win to keep the GOP majority.

In advance of his party’s convention on March 26, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris)Monmouth County GOP Chairman Adam Puharic today said he no longer has reservations about state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris).

"I spoke with Joe Pennacchio, we had a real long talk, and I am growing more comfortable with Monmouth County Republicans getting behind his candidacy for U.S. Senate," said Puharic.

Following the departure from the Senate race of millionaire Anne Evans Estabrook, the Monmouth County Republican chairman called for a meeting of county party chairs to discuss strategy.

Puharic had hoped a key ally, Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth), would get in the race, but Kyrillos decided against running.

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio continues to look like the front runner for the Republican nomination to oppose four-term incumbent Frank Lautenberg this fall.  Former New Jersey Highway Authority Chairman Joseph Buckalew says he’s not running for United States Senate, and GOP insiders report that State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos is not likely to enter the race.  State Sen. Christopher Bateman continues to give serious consideration to a U.S. Senate bid, though some party leaders seem concerned about a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco and his law firm, where Bateman is a partner.  Several Republican leaders are pushing U.S. Marshal James Plousis to run, but there is no evidence that the former Cape May County Sheriff is interested.