U.S. Senate

Not to be outdone by Frank Lautenberg’s Web site tying him to President Bush’s Iraq policies, Rep. Rob Andrews announced the creation of his own site today.

The site outlines what Andrews says are Lautenberg’s contradictions – from his call for 21 debates with Millicent Fenwick in 1982 to his early support for the Iraq War.

"Nothing speaks louder than a man's own words and actions," said Andrews Campaign Chairman Mike Murphy. "This website lets Sen. Lautenberg's record speak for itself."

For the first time, the full field of three Republican Senate candidates met tonight to debate.

The forum, held at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Madison campus, was moderated by Star-Ledger conservative columnist Paul Mulshine. Candidates Joe Pennacchio, Murray Sabrin and Dick Zimmer spent their time addressing the issues and laying out some stark differences in policy– for the most part, anyway.

A question from former Bergen County Freeholder candidate Deirdre Woodbyrne did spark a heated argument between the two longer standing candidates, Joe Pennacchio and Murray Sabrin.

Woodbyrne asked whether the candidates would pledge to stop making personal attacks on fellow Republicans. Sabrin responded that he would continue to campaign against what he saw as failed party leadership in Trenton.

Pennacchio said that he had issued his own similar clean campaign pledge months ago and kept to it.

“We made it public and we encouraged all candidates to sign that pledge,” he said. “Today none have. And it’s funny, because I was the proud recipient of some of Murray’s promises: distortions, name-calling, because he believes in practicing politics instead of delivering a principled message.”

New Jersey’s main gay-rights organization today endorsed incumbent Frank Lautenberg over Rep. Rob Andrews in the Democratic Senate primary.

The group’s chairman, Steven Goldstein, said that both were “outstanding” candidates, but that they would stick with the tried-and-true Lautenberg, who has been “our greatest champion of equality.”

Goldstein cited Lautenberg’s coauthoring of the Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990, and his fight for increased federal funding for HIV and AIDS treatment since then.

Rob Andrews wants to render Frank Lautenberg’s county line advantage obsolete.

Andrews announced today that he’s filing suit against 13 mostly northern county clerks to seek a “fair and open Democratic primary” that requires county clerks give “fair and equal” ballot position to both U.S. Senate candidates at the State Superior Court. The challenge was first reported on the liberal Web site Blue Jersey

While Andrews has the county line in seven southern counties, Lautenberg has the line in the 12 other counties that award it -- a big advantage in a primary with an expected low turnout.

Andrews cited a state statute, N.J.S.A. 19:23-26.1, that says primary candidates for Senate or Governor must appear in the first column and apart from candidates for lower offices.

Senate candidate Joe Pennacchio hung on to the Hunterdon County Republicans' line tonight.

Pennacchio kept the prominent ballot spot, winning 34 votes to Zimmer’s 30 at a special county committee meeting.

It was the second time that Pennacchio won a county committee vote in Hunterdon County. In late February, he beat Anne Estabrook and Murray Sabrin to win the coveted ballot spot.

But after Hunterdon native Dick Zimmer entered the race last week, the county’s Republican chairman, Henry Kuhl, scheduled a special county committee meeting to vote on whether to change the county’s ballot placement.

Rob Andrews’s Senate campaign today denied that they had anything to do with a court challenge to long-shot primary opponent Donald Cresitello’s petitions.

After less than three weeks as a U.S. Senate candidate, Andy Unanue formally withdrew his candidacy today. 

Saying that he has no regrets about stepping into the race, Unanue issued a statement today after his committee on vacancies filed paperwork with the Division of Elections designating former Rep. Dick Zimmer as his replacement.

Unanue cited business commitments and opportunities as his primary reason for withdrawal. 

"After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided to end my candidacy for U.S. Senate.  I made the decision to enter the race after serious deliberation and I have no regrets.  My decision to withdraw is based on an equally thorough deliberation,” he said.  "I have concluded that my extensive business commitments along with new business opportunities that have recently presented themselves would prevent me from dedicating myself fully to a statewide campaign."

Senate candidate Joe Pennacchio plans to challenge the validity of Andy Unanue’s candidacy tomorrow.

Pennacchio campaign manager Dan Gallic said that, if Unanue does indeed drop out of the race, then his “oath of candidacy was not made in good faith.” Gallic cited press reports that Unanue had flown back to Vail, Colo., where he kicked off his candidacy while on a family vacation two weeks ago, shortly after filling his candidacy on Monday.

“As we understand from the reports, he was already on the plane within 24 hours, raising significant issues as to whether he ever intended to run at all,” said Gallic.

Multiple Republican sources say Andy Unanue is preparing to drop out of the Republican U.S. Senate race and will be replaced by former Congressman Dick Zimmer.

The arrangement is not final, but Unanue has reportedly agreed to drop his candidacy, while Zimmer has said that he will replace him.

Unanue’s three member committee on vacancies has until next Wednesday to officially change candidates.

Unanue could not be reached for comment, but Zimmer said that he has been contacted by several Republicans about the prospect and has agreed to run if he can count on a lot of support.

“I’ve received a number of phone calls from people who are interested in my running,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s a done deal, and I’ve said that if asked I would run. I’m proud of my record of accomplishment as a Congressman, and I would like to put it up against Frank Lautenberg’s.”

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.