April 2, 2008 - 10:10pm
Can Lautenberg use Andrews support of toll hikes as a campaign issue? Will he?
By Wally Edge
Tags: Jon Corzine, U.S. Senate, Frank Lautenberg, Rob Andrews, JOSH MARGOLIN, Star-Ledger, toll hike, Deborah Howlett
Fifty days ago today, Star-Ledger reporters Josh Margolin and Deborah Howlett broke the story that “Frank Lautenberg's opposition to Gov. Jon Corzine's highway toll plan has opened a rift between the two men that could affect the senator's re-election bid.”
“Lautenberg's announcement was a surprise and led one senior Corzine aide tell top Democrats that the governor would retaliate by ceasing his fund-raising efforts for the senator's re-election campaign,” wrote Margolin and Howlett.
Corzine announced today that he was sticking with his endorsement of Lautenberg, despite the sudden candidacy of Rob Andrews, a ten-term Congressman from Camden County and a supporter of Corzine’s toll hike plan, in the primary. This raises an interesting question: during a critical time that Corzine is trying to sell his budget and toll plan, can Lautenberg (and his consultant, Corzine advisor Steve DeMicco) attack Andrews for supporting toll increases, even if his polling suggests it is an effective message?
Editor's Note: BlueJersey.com has a chart comparing Lautenberg and Andrews on several key issues.
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Will hurt Andrews in the general
Is it wise for the Democrats to run someone in the General election where the Republicans can run attack ads on his support of Corzine's massively unpopular toll plan? Why give the Republicans who have no viable candidate a chance to exploit an issue that is incredibly unpopular with the public? If Lautenberg doesnt use it in the primary i am sure the Republican candidate will use it against Andrews in the general.
thanks for nothing Corzine!
yeah, Andrews is probably kicking himself for that one now.
Maybe Lautenberg is smarter than we thought....
Naw-he won't get stuck with supporting an idea!
especially one that floudered under its own weight. And especially when the R's didn't offer a solution of their own.