New Jersey

There has been some infighting within Barack Obama’s New Jersey campaign since the February 5 Democratic primary – and the turf battle has resulted in a major political victory for Congressman Steven Rothman. Last week, Obama sent a letter to the Democratic State Committee changing the official representative of his state campaign from Mark Alexander to Rothman and his Chief of Staff, Bob Decheine.

The matter was settled on a conference call that included representatives of the state Obama leadership, including Rothman, Alexander, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and State Senators Loretta Weinberg and John Adler.

Rothman, a six-term Congressman from Bergen County, is the only member of the New Jersey delegation to endorse Obama. Alexander, a Seton Hall University law professor, ran Obama’s New Jersey campaign after serving as his national policy director.

Monmouth County Republicans today endorsed Anne Evans Estabrook for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination. “My message for change in Washington and affordability for our state continues to grow and build momentum and this support will help me carry that message to the voters,” said Estabrook.

• Barack Obama picked up two New Jersey superdelegates this week, including one who had previously endorsed Hillary Clinton, and was endorsed by George Norcross and most of the South Jersey Democratic leadership.  A Quinnipiac poll has Obama and Clinton leading John McCain in New Jersey.

• Voters don’t approve of Gov. Jon Corzine’s job performance and they hate his plan to raise tolls, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

• U.S. Attorney Chris Christie says he won’t testify before a congressional committee unless the Justice Department gives their permission.

• Gov. Jon Corzine named a Star-Ledger reporter who covered him as his new $125,000/year Communications Director.

• Keep an eye on key May 13 municipal races in Vineland, Teaneck, Belleville, Orange, Montclair, and Paterson.

Voters think Frank Lautenberg, who turned 84 last month,is too old to spend another six years in the U.S. Senate: Getty Images PhotoNearly 60% of New Jersey voters say that 84-year-old Frank Lautenberg is “too old to effectively serve another six-year term in the U.S. Senate,” according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released this morning. Lautenberg has a 39%-31% job approval rating, but 40% of voters think he does not deserve re-election; 32% say he should return to the Senate.

The Bergen County Republican Organization reports that for the first time in almost five years, they will begin the campaign cycle with no debt. That’s a feather in the cap of Robert Ortiz, who became County Chairman last June after the embattled Guy Talarico resigned. The BCRO is pledging to mount the “largest countywide campaign in recent memory” as they seek to re-elect County Clerk Kathleen Donovan and compete for three seats on the Board of Freeholders.

There is speculation today that State Sen. Joe Kyrillos might enter the race for U.S. Senate: Getty Images Photo
Monmouth County GOP Chairman Adam Puharic wants State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos to enter the race for United States Senate.

"If Joe Kyrillos got in the race, it would be a game-changing event for New Jersey politics," said Puharic, who served on Anne Evans Estabrook’s exploratory committee but has not endorsed a candidate in the race.

Assemblyman Michael Doherty says he will introduce legislation to move the 2012 New Jersey presidential primary back to June, “so that New Jersey can save the $10.5 million expense of holding two separate primaries.”

Doherty supported Rep. Ron Paul, who won 5% of the vote in yesterday’s GOP primary.