Joseph Pennacchio

Former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, the leader of the conservative wing of the New Jersey Republican Party, is expected to endorse Joseph Pennacchio for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination on Monday.  Lonegan, a possible candidate for the 2009 Republican gubernatorial nomination and an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist, has the ability to influence a large block of undecided voters in Tuesday’s primary election.

Zimmer continues to use spin to hide from the tax breaks he took for himself

Today State Senator and US Senate candidate “Jersey Joe” Pennacchio announced the endorsement of the New Jersey Conservative Party.

99% of income derived from lobbying, not farming.

NEWARK - Borrowing from American regional painting, Sen. JosephState Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) Pennacchio (R-Morris) followed up on his press conference attack of former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer by issuing a mailer lampooning Zimmer’s use of a farmland assessment tax break.

The piece shows the heads of Zimmer and former state Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth) pasted on the bodies of the farmer and his wife in Grant Wood’s "American Gothic."

"It’s silliness," said Zimmer U.S. Senate campaign spokesman Ken Kurson. "We have no response. No comment."

Today the campaign of US Senate candidate and State Senator “Jersey Joe” Pennacchio asked Dick Zimmer exactly how many bales of hay equal $1,000.

The Star-Ledger and the Philadelphia Inquirer have endorsed Rob Andrews for U.S. SenateThe Star-Ledger and the Philadelphia Inquirer have endorsed Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate against incumbent Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic primary.  Both papers also endorsed Dick Zimmer for the GOP nomination, although the Star-Ledger said they would back Andrews or Lautenberg over Zimmer in the general election. 

Any real farmer would know the answers

Pennacchio cut taxes

There were no major gaffes, no hugely inappropriate comments, and no meltdowns in a rather tame debate of Republican U.S. Senate candidates on New Jersey Network last night. Dick Zimmer stressed his experience as a former Congressman, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio cast himself as the conservative in the race, and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin was the man with the golden zinger. Result: No clear winner, but a slight edge to Sabrin.