Steve Rothman

TRENTON - As Democrats gear up for a bruising senate primary season, unofficial congressional filing results with the state Division of Elections show no same-party challengers to incumbent Democratic congressmen.      

Only in the 1st District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews is vacating his seat to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in the primary, are there several hopefuls battling for what Andrews leaves behind.

Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes today said he would not Mayor Michael Wildeschallenge U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman as long as Rothman has the organization line in Bergen County.

“I would need the party support to go forward,” said Wildes, an ally of Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman Joseph Ferriero, who yesterday issued a statement of support for U.S. Frank Lautenberg.

Earlier in the week, Rothman had threatened Ferriero with legal action if the chairman removed Lautenberg from Bergen’s line A on the ballot to replace him with U.S. Rep Rob Andrews, who this week jumped in the Democratic primary against Lautenberg.

There’s still no official word from Brian Stack on his preference in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.  Stack, a State Senator and Mayor of Union City who is a voter turnout powerhouse in North Hudson, was among those touted on Tuesday morning as a likely supporter of Rob Andrews.  But sources say that Stack believed that Joseph Ferriero – the Bergen Democratic Chairman backed down after Steve Rothman publicly emasculated him -- and seems reluctant to be among the first North Jerseyans to endorse Andrews. 

State Sen. Paul Sarlo, a close political ally of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, will endorse Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate after a formal announcement of his candidacy, according to sources close to the campaign. Ferriero had been expected to back Andrews, but is now likely to endorse Lautenberg after feeling considerable pressure from key backers of incumbent Frank Lautenberg, including Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Steve Rothman.

Congressman Steve Rothman beat up on Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero today, effectively stopping the powerful party leader from endorsing Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate today. But if Ferriero suddenly develops some testicular fortitude and backs Andrews before the April 7 filing deadline, there could be some payback for Rothman too.

Steve Rothman delivered a rather strong message to Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero that appears to have caused the powerful party leader to back off his plan to endorse Rob Andrews for U.S. Senate and hold another convention to give Andrews the organization line in Essex County: that he would file a lawsuit against the BCDO for failing to follow its own bylaws by holding an illegal convention; that he would field a full slate of candidates against the organization, from U.S. Senate down to the 1,100 candidates for Democratic County Committee; that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would support Frank Lautenberg; that U.S. Senator Bob Menendez would have his back; and that the move could put Ferriero’s own chairmanship at risk.

Six Democratic Congressmen have endorsed Frank Lautenberg for re-election to the U.S. Senate: Getty Images Photo
All six of Rob Andrews' New Jersey House colleagues have endorsed Frank Lautenberg for U.S. enate, and have pledged to run on his line in the June 3 Democratic primary.

"Frank Lautenberg is New Jersey's senator and we stand with him. He delivers for New Jersey in the U.S. Senate and is invaluable to our state. That is why we will run in our home counties on the same line with Senator Lautenberg in the Democratic primary," said Frank Pallone, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman, Rush Holt and Albio Sires in a joint statement. "Senator Lautenberg's leadership is critical to New Jersey's future. We urge our colleague, Rep. Rob Andrews, not to run for U.S. Senate."

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg addresses the crowd as Gov. Jon Corzine looks on.

TRENTON -- Burnishing his blue collar roots and seniority in Washington, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg today launched his re-election bid at the Trenton Marriott, promising to lead the fight for New Jersey's working families.

"I will build on my work of the last few years, to stand strong against those who attack our values that short change our state and to deliver the results that improve people's lives," said Lautenberg, who was first elected to the Senate in 1982.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman endorsed Dennis Shulman for Congress today.

"After meeting with Dennis and hearing about him from people throughout
Northern New Jersey, I am convinced that he will make an excellent Member of ongress, " said Rothman in a statement.

Shulman, a blind rabbi/psychologist, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Camille Abate to take on Republican Scott Garrett in the fifth congressional district, which borders Rothman’s.

Flat on its back for weeks, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidentialAssemblyman Joseph Cryan campaign finally squirmed out from underneath Sen. Barack Obama tonight as the Democratic candidate from New York beat her rival in the Buckeye State, and was projected to win in Texas.

"It’s a big win," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), chairman of the New Jersey Democratic Party and a key Clinton supporter, who’s watched with dismay and toiled to keep a Clinton coalition together as Obama’s 11 straight victories had some of his allies tiptoeing toward the panic button.

"It’s early, but what this (Ohio) victory means is that the Democratic nomination will be on April 22nd (in Pennsylvania)," said Cryan.

Talking shortly after 11 p.m on Election Night moments before Clinton delivered her victory speech, the state party chairman at that point conceded Obama could still win in Texas, but said it would likely be by such a narrow margin that Clinton’s projected decisive victory in Ohio would balance the deck and enable his candidate to credibly continue her trudge toward the presidency.