Kate Whitman

Christopher Venis, Republican candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, announced today that he signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR).

Somerset County’s two Republican State Committee members have decided to pass over endorsing five of their own county’s own residents for Congress in favor of state Sen. Leonard Lance, a Hunterdon County native.

In a setting-the-record-straight conversation today with PolitickerNJ.com, Amanda Woloshen, spokeswoman for state Sen. Leonard Lance, clarified that Lance remains a candidate for the U.S. Congress in the 7th District, and has no intention of pursuing a run for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Anne Evans Estabrook’s suspension of her U.S. Senate campaign this morning due to health concerns sparked Lance’s rival, businesswoman Kate Whitman, to jokingly drop Lance’s name as a candidate for that office.

There was some buzz this morning about Kate Whitman entering the race for United States Senator -- the contrast between a 30-year-old mother of twin boys and an 84-year-old incumbent would have been remarkable – but Whitman seems to have no interest in any race but the one for Congress in the seventh district.  But Whitman does see the merit of another Senate candidate, and she suggested – probably with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek – that maybe Leonard Lance should run statewide.

• In the GOP U.S. Senate primary, Joe Pennacchio won the line in Union and Hunterdon counties, and the endorsement of the Bergen, Anne Estabrook had trouble answering a question on the second amendment.

• GOP Screening Committee and In the race for Mike Ferguson’s seat in Congress, Kelly Hatfield won the Union County GOP convention, Kate Whitman formally enters the race, and Leonard Lance won the Hunterdon GOP endorsement.

• And in the race for Jim Saxton’s House seat, the Sierra Club endorsed John Adler, Chris Myers wants Adler to block Jeanne Fox’s BPU reappointment, and the Academy Awards put Jack Kelly in the news.

• Former GOP operative/lobbyist Bob Stears got 27 months in prison for bilking the Burlington County Bridge Commission.

• A House Judiciary Subcommittee will subpoena former Attorney General John Ashcroft about his $52 million federal monitor contract, but not U.S. Attorney Chris Christie.

• Gov. Jon Corzine revealed his budget.

• Don’t miss Deb Holtz’s five-part series on the revolving door between journalism and politics.

Heading off the critique that she's a dynastic candidate, Kate Whitman, daughter of former Gov. Christie Whitman, clarifies to the Union County delegates that she's "asking" for their votes in the 7th District.

Coming off a victory in his home county on Monday, State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) rejoiced in a third place finish in Union County on Saturday.

Because of his Hunterdon County base, Leonard Lance starts as the front runner in the Republican primary to succeed Mike Ferguson in New Jersey's seventh congressional district, but he faces a formidable challenge from Kate Whitman, the 30-year-old daughter of the former Governor, and from a pair of candidates from Union County.

Lance has two main problems: he's a horrific fundraiser, as evidenced by his inability to properly fund Republican Senate races after serving as Minority Leader for the last four years; and Republicans are worried that he lacks the ability to step up and run the kind of tough campaign the GOP thinks they need to hold the seat against Linda Stender in the General Election. 

Warren Mayor Victor SordilloIt’s primary season in a Republican-leaning district, and to date Scotch Plains Mayor Martin Marks has most vocally filled the pro-life terrain in the 7th district primary field, where he hopes to upend pro-choice Dr. Kelly Hatfield of Summit this Saturday at the Union County Republican Convention.

But Warren Township Mayor Victor Sordillo in neighboring Somerset County appears intent on moving even farther to Marks’ starboard on the issue of abortion, and doing so with the specific strategic goal of gaining ground in his home territory.

Since learning of Assemblyman Peter Biondi’s intentions last month not to pursue a run for Congress in this district that contains portions of four counties (Hunterdon, Somerset, Union and Middlesex), Sordillo entered the fray and has determinedly carved out a hard right entrenchment.