April 7, 2008 - 10:03am
News

Deadlines won't inconvenience Norcross

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.

If Camille Andrews wins the Democratic primary and then drops out, the new nominee -- essentially, the new Member of Congress -- would be selected by the Democratic County Committee members in the first district.  But it's not like Lautenberg can criticize that process -- that's how he went to the U.S. Senate six years ago.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.