Rob Andrews

The decision to put Camille Andrews on the ballot as a candidate for her husband’s open House seat is likely to become an issue in Rob Andrews’ campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. Some Democrats suspect that the move was designed to offer the incumbent a safety net to return to the House of Representatives if he loses his primary challenge to Frank Lautenberg, and wonder why South Jersey Democratic leaders were unable to simply agree upon a successor during the week between Andrews’ decision to run and filing day. Still, this is a vintage George Norcross move: there have been several times over the last few years that Camden County Democrats put a placeholder on the primary ballot. Norcross has little desire to be inconvenienced by filing deadines.

South Jersey Democrats will file nominating petitions today for Camille Andrews, the wife of Rep. Rob Andrews, as a candidate for Congress in the 1st district.  Sources say that she will act as a placeholder until party leaders can formally select a candidate to run in this safe Democratic district.  Rob Andrews, who is challenging Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, is expected to announce that he will end his eighteen-year career in the House regardless of the results of the primary.

Andy Unanue will file his nominating petitions for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination today, although his intention to continue his two week old candidacy remains uncertain after party leaders sought to push him out last week and anoint John Crowley.  Crowley turned it down – twice. Keep an eye on Unanue’s Committee on Vacancies – that group of three may have the power to put another candidate in the race.

Keep an eye on local filings at various County Clerk’s offices to see if Frank Lautenberg and Rob Andrews file full slates – including Freeholder candidates – in any of the counties where the other has the organization line. 

Look out for news on who will replace Andrews as the Democratic candidate for Congress in the first district.  Chances are it will be a placeholder – so that Democratic leaders can get together after the primary to pick a candidate.

Watch the tenth congressional district and see if anyone files to run against ten-term incumbent Donald Payne, who will be on the Lautenberg slate.  Over the weekend, some Democrats were talking about Mark Alexander, a Seton Hall Law Professor who works for Barack Obama.

Rep. Rob Andrews is making his second bid for statewide office, challenging Frank Lautenberg in the Democratic Senate primary

As he launches a primary campaign for Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat, Rep. Rob Andrews says he’s less prickly than he was 11 years ago when his failed campaign for governor left him holding grudges and questioning the value of a man's word.

The congressman from Camden was bothered by then-Essex County Chairman Thomas Giblin’s 1997 decision to withdraw his support for Andrews to instead back north Jersey product James E. McGreevey for Governor.

“I took it personally and that was my mistake,” said Andrews, 50, who felt vindicated but no less intensely frustrated after McGreevey’s spectacular fall.

“Someone who might have backed McGreevey and not me was not a bad person,” Andrews said.

“He is a foolish person,” the congressman added, “but not a bad person.”

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.

Powerful North Newark Democratic boss Steve Adubato endorsed U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate last week, but today the Essex County Democratic Committee awarded the line to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Meanwhile, in Union County, despite Sen. Ray Lesniak's (D-Union) endorsement of Andrews, the Union County Democratic Committee today stuck with Lautenberg.

Powerful North Newark Democratic boss Steve Adubato endorsed U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate last week, but today the Essex County Democratic Committee awarded the line to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Meanwhile, in Union County, despite Sen. Ray Lesniak's (D-Union) endorsement of Andrews, the Union County Democratic Committee today stuck with Lautenberg.

MARLTON - Sen. Frank Lautenberg figures to have the edge with seniors in his Democratic primary fight with U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews.

But maybe not today in Burlington where the 84-year old incumbent passed on an old commitment to campaign at a retired persons’ complex with state Sen. John Adler, who’s running for U.S. Congress in the 3rd Congressional District.

That’s because Andrews was in attendance, and he was campaigning too.

Evesham Mayor Randy Brown completely and totally nailed Rob Andrews' message in his U.S. Senate primary against Frank Lautenberg:    “Looking forward, a whole new generation of challenges awaits us. I am convinced that Rob Andrews is the next generation leader New Jersey needs fighting for us in Washington.  He will be the ultimate agent for change in the U.S. Senate.  I certainly applaud Senator Lautenberg for his service to New Jersey and the country.  He has accomplished much in his nearly three decades of public service.  While both Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Andrews are excellent representations of our party and our state, I feel that Rob is the best choice for my community, our state, and our future.”