Joseph Pennacchio

Signatures on petitions for U.S. Senate:

Rob Andrews: 5,970
Frank Lautenberg: 4,950
Murray Sabrin: 1,690
Donald Cresitello: 1,384
Andy Unanue: 1,379
Joseph Pennacchio: 1,370

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.

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.

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.

Two of Joseph Pennacchio’s top staffers have left the campaign.  Yesterday was the last day for communications director Chris Pordon and Sean DiSomma, the political and field director.  Pennacchio’s campaign manager, Dan Gallic, says that the two operatives were only signed on through the convention. 

From left to right: Will Mennen of Hunterdon County, Bergen County GOP Chairman Rob Ortiz, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean.

Senate candidate Joe Pennacchio won the Somerset County Republican convention tonight.

Pennacchio won the county line with 247 votes to rival Andy Unanue’s 51.

Murray Sabrin, who refused to drop his plan to run alternate slates of freeholder candidates, was not allowed to participate.

It’s been a long day, and while there is hardly a challenge for content, here’s one item that is so insignificant that you need to be a card carrying political junkie to read on: Rob Andrews today became the seventh man named Andrews to run for the United States Senate. And it’s been 28 years since a man named Andrews has won a U.S. Senate seat, which is actually eight years less than it’s been since a Republican U.S. Senate candidate won New Jersey.

Crowleymania '08 is overRepublican sources say that John Crowley’s decision not to run for the United States Senate in 2008 is final, despite considerable lobbying by some GOP leaders to get the biotech millionaire in the race. Sources say that Crowley, who appeared to be in the race on Friday and then announced on Monday that he would not be a candidate, was indeed reconsidering his candidacy. That leaves the Republican field at State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue, and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin.

The race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination came extraordinarily close to taking a rather amazing turn this weekend amidst Crowleymania – a groundswell of support among GOP insiders for biotech millionaire John Crowley. Don’t expect any confirmation from the other candidates, but here’s the real story on how Crowley almost cleared the field, without even knowing it:

On Friday and Saturday, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio had some discussions with staff and supporters about dropping out of the race for Senate and backing Crowley; there was talk that the announcement could come as early as Sunday or Monday.

On Sunday evening, Goya Foods millionaire Andy Unanue spoke to Crowley by telephone, and after the call informed some of his advisors that he would drop his Senate bid and support Crowley.

At this point, Crowley was sending out strong signals that he would enter the Senate race.