Rob Andrews

If Dick Zimmer had won his race for U.S. Senate in 1996 – our premise is purely hypothetical because he did not – who would be running this year? 

The first question is this: would Zimmer have won re-election in 2002?  Rob Andrews, Bob Menendez and Frank Pallone would have probably declined to challenge him – it’s fair to assume that if they were unwilling to give up their safe House seats to run against Doug Forrester, they would have been less likely to risk a race against an incumbent in post 9/11 New Jersey, when George W. Bush was actually off-the-charts popular in New Jersey.  

Here is one scenario how this might have played out:

MIDDLETOWN - Turbulence in the Republican Party caused state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) to more than once consider running for U.S. Senate in this current primary cycle.

He had a number of openings.

Citing health concerns, millionaire Anne Evans Estabrook last month dropped out of the Republican primary, sending the GOP scrambling to find a replacement. The party first recruited millionaire businessman Andy Unanue, while simultaneously trying to recruit millionaire businessman John Crowley.

Andrews' Deception on Iraq Continues

First district Republican congressional candidate Dale Glading today challenged current Democratic candidate Camille Andrews to a series of debates.

Camille Andrews is filling the ballot spot left vacant by her husband, Rob Andrews, who’s running in the Democratic senate primary. She told the Star-Ledger yesterday that she plans to run as more than just a placeholder candidate, though she will step aside if asked by party leaders.

As expected, the Iraq war has emerged as a sticky issue in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Incumbent Frank Lautenberg’s campaign today issued a press release citing a Philadelphia Inquirer story that ran today, saying that challenger Rep. Rob Andrews, an early Democratic supporter of the war, misrepresented exactly when he turned into an opponent of the effort.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) today stood by his aRep. Rob Andrewsdvocacy of Gov. Jon Corzine's toll roads proposal in the face of bad mouthing from state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris).

"I give the governor credit," said Andrews, who entered the U.S. Senate race last week against Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

"We want to address the state's problems," Andrews said. "I take Joe Pennacchio's criticism as a high compliment."

As he struggles to secure his party's nomination in a turbulent GOP primary, Pennacchio treated the entry of Andrews into the contest asState Sen. Joseph Pennacchio an opportunity to go after another Democratic target.

When asked to draw a contrast between himself and the Camden Democrat, Pennacchio said, "I never raised a tax.

"Joe Pennacchio has a record of cutting taxes," the senator added of himself.

The Republican referred to Andrews's public declaration of support earlier this year for Corzine's plan to increase tolls by 50% every four years until 2022 on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and Route 440.

Democratic Senate primary candidate Rob Andrews fired off another volley against Frank Lautenberg this afternoon, accusing the incumbent Senator of having other politicians do his bidding for him.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne speaks for Lautenberg at Newark City Hall with Sen. Richard Codey, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and others 

NEWARK - Standing on the steps of Newark City Hall in a city where the largest single political machine backs another candidate, an alliance of elected officials from Essex County today announced their support for Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, state Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex), Mayor Robert Bowser of East Orange, Mayor Ray McCarthy of Bloomfield, freeholders, and council people joined forces to highlight the endorsements of 34 Essex officials for Lautenberg.

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Chuck Schumer reaffirmed his support for incumbent U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg this afternoon – and took something of a shot at Lautenberg primary challenger U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews.

“We believe that Frank will win the primary. His numbers are good, his popularity among Democrats in a poll we just made public is very high. In the northern part of the state, the northern counties, Frank is ahead, I think, 75 - 11. The Andrews people had thought they could get a few of those northern counties, but they don’t have a one. All 14 are with Frank,” Schumer said.

“So, you know, I think Frank will win,” Schumer added. “Frank has, you know, about double the money in the bank that Andrews has. We support our incumbents. Frank has done a very good job in the Senate, he’s active, he’s strong, and we think we will win. And New Jersey is blue. We don’t think the field of their candidates is as strong as ours. But we think Frank is the stronger candidate in both the primary and the general.”

Dissatisfied by incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s posture in the week-old Democratic primary, his challenger, Rep. Rob Andrews, issued a statement today calling on Lautenberg to join him in a series of debates across the state.

"Senator Lautenberg has made it clear to the people of New Jersey that he should be anointed to their Senate seat rather than face his opponent in fair and open debates on the issues that matter most to our families," said Andrews. “I sincerely hope he changes his mind and shows the voters the respect they deserve as they decide who is better equipped to represent them in the United States Senate.”