Somerset GOP moving toward Zimmer endorsement

By Wally Edge | April 11th, 2008 - 8:49am
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Joseph Pennacchio won the Somerset County Republican convention last month in a race where he was essentially unopposed.  Andy Unanue, in the race a few days and still vacationing in Vail, declined to compete, and Murray Sabrin was ineligible because he refused to sign a pledge required by the party to support the organization slate.  Now Pennacchio is in danger of losing the Somerset endorsement as GOP County Chairman Dale Florio maneuvers behind the scenes to add Dick Zimmer to the line.  Sources close to Florio say that he has discussed either a do-over vote based on the new field of candidates -- Zimmer represented part of Somerset County in Congress from 1991 to 1997 --  or simply creating a limited open primary, where Pennacchio and Zimmer – but not Sabrin – would run on the organization line.

Zimmer will also get the organization line in Burlington County, which has not endorsed anyone since Anne Evans Estabrook withdrew from the race last month.

Yesterday, Hunterdon County Republican Chairman Henry Kuhl told PolitickerNJ.com that he will hold an Executive Committee meeting next week to replace Pennacchio on their line with Zimmer, a Hunterdon resident.

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Back to the USSR it is!

Submitted by Wiel on April 11, 2008 - 9:26am.

These Soviets (oops! establishments Republicans in NJ) are unbelievable. However, the sad part is that it is true.

Typical NJGOP

Submitted by bitaryo on April 11, 2008 - 9:33am.

Causing a civil war during a Presidential Election year.

What a pack of provincial bozos.  In the words of Casey Stengel, "Doesn't anyone know how to play this game?"

Another...

Submitted by studmoose on April 11, 2008 - 9:43am.

INEFFECTIVE REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN A BREWIN'

Causing a civil war?

Submitted by Lee Atwater on April 11, 2008 - 10:07am.

I think a Zimmer candidacy will be welcomed by the GOP.  Sabrin is not a factor (less than 15%) even my very conservative area of the state.  Jersey Joe or Murray on top the the ticket in November would lead to disaster down the ballot.  Zimmer will give us a fighting chance.

...even more disturbing

Submitted by Dark Lord on April 11, 2008 - 10:10am.

After all this, Pennacchio will have lost and will return to the State Senate, where he will fall all over himself to do the bidding of lobbyist Florio or any of his staff.

The NJGOP all deserve themselves. F*@#ing idiots.

Unbelievable

Submitted by GOPObserver on April 11, 2008 - 10:32am.

This Chairman is too much.  First he doesn't support any of his County candidates for congress.  Now he wants to gift wrap the line to someone who has done zero in this campaign. 

Wasn't he also accused of rewriting the rules last year?  Didn't one of last year's candidates for freeholder switch parties this year?

It wouldn't surprise if he is challenged in June.

With what's been going on this year, the Republicans would be well served by replacing all of their chairs in June and Tom Wilson.  It's time to wipe the slate clean.

How is this such a bad thing?

Submitted by Giuseppe Franco on April 11, 2008 - 8:59pm.

There were no viable candidates, especially after Jersey Joe turned out to be certifiable with a paper trail to prove it, and the opponent is actually vulnerable, especially with a ticket headed by McCain.  The GOP should be welcoming this.  Especially since now the already vulnerable Senator is facing an expensive primary. 

 I really wish Andy Unanue stuck around though, I would've enjoyed the challenge of trying to salvage his hair.   

"I'm Giuseppe Franco!  I'm not putting my name on something that doesn't work!"

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