New Jersey

Democrat Frank Lautenberg leads State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio by only eight points, 46%-38%, in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll of New Jersey voters released today.  The four-term incumbent leads businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook 44%-34%, and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin 46%-31%.

“While the poll results are generally encouraging for Lautenberg, any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable,” said the pollster.

Governing in New Jersey received a grade of C, among the nine lowest in the nation, according to a study released by Pew Center on the States, an arm of the Pew Charitable Trusts. New Jersey received a C- on Money, a B- on People, a C+ on Infrastructure, and a C- on Information.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is expected to announce his endorsement of Joe Pennacchio for U.S. Senate today. 

Voters have no idea who the Republican U.S. Senate candidates are, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released this morning. 84% of voters have never heard of State Senator Joseph Pennacchio, 87% don’t recognize Anne Evans Estabrook, and 89% have no idea who Murray Sabrin is. Among Republicans, the number is similarly dismal: 82% haven’t heard of Pennacchio, 83% don’t know who Sabrin is, and 87% are unfamiliar with Estabrook.

“No brand name has entered the race for the Republicans,” said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and director of the poll. “In part, that is a reflection of poor prospects for the Republican Party nationally which is bogged down with an unpopular President, an unpopular war, and a softening economy.”

The four-term incumbent, Democrat Frank Lautenberg, is known by 85% of New Jersey voters; he has a 42%-23% favorability rating.

“He’s a brand name and they like him.” Woolley said.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson doesn’t like where the Republican U.S. Senate primary appears to be going.

Noting the attacks lobbed against Anne Evans Estabrook by the rival campaigns of Murray Sabrin and State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Wilson said that the campaigns so far are very close to violating Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican."

“I’m Switzerland here, and I’m beginning to think I need to do what I did in 2005 with all the gubernatorial candidates: invite them to have a discussion about this campaign,” he said. “It’s ok to point out differences, but there’s no reason to get personal about it or ascribe motivations to people. Fight as hard as you can, but fight fairly.”

Washington: U. S. Senator Robert Menendez, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee sent a letter to Joseph Kelliher, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, opposing a petition filed by PSEG Energy Resources Trade and PSEG Fossil LLC, (“PSEG”) seeking to disconnect a Bergen County power plant, from the regional power grid serving New Jersey and connect it to New York’s power grid.  The transfer would likely reduce supply and thus raise energy costs of New Jersey consumers.

Bob Decheine probably wouldn’t know how to get from Haworth to Hawthorne, but he’s very much in control of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in New Jersey. His power comes from his day job as Chief of Staff to Congressman Steven Rothman, who has emerged as the leader of the state Obama campaign. And Rothman’s lead in a PolitickerNJ.com online poll of which New Jersey Democrat has the most political power today appears to be the result of Obama’s surge as a national candidate.

Did Anne Estabrook need her notes to answer a question on the second amendment at a recent forum for Republican U.S. Senate candidates? That’s what the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee seems to think after viewing a video of Estabrook’s response posted on the Internet by one of her GOP rivals, Prof. Murray Sabrin. Estabrook, the Democrats say, “stumbles for 24 seconds to search through her notes for the right answer.”

Hunterdon County last night was significant: Hunterdon cast the seventh most number of votes in the 2006 GOP primary, and this was the first real intramural contest of the campaign for the chance to challenge four-term incumbent Frank Lautenberg in November. Pennacchio won 43-35, with 12 votes for Murray Sabrin, a Ramapo College professor and the Chairman of Ron Paul’s New Jersey campaign.

Joe Pennacchio won the Hunterdon GOP line by 7 votesState Sen. Joseph Pennacchio defeated businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook to win the endorsement of the Hunterdon County Republican organization tonight. Pennacchio won 42-35, with Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin finishing third with 12 votes.

"I am proud to have the support of Hunterdon County's Republicans," Pennacchio said in a statement. "I know
that they stand with me on the most important issues facing New Jersey and
the nation."