Rothman, spending Election Day in Chicago, could wind up in Obama administration

The announcement that U.S. Rep. Steven Rothman will spend Election Day in Chicago with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama fuels speculation that the Congressman from Bergen County may be up for a post in the new administration.  Rothman has said he has no interest, but then again, that's what they all say just before they take the job.

Rothman has been interested in moving up to the United States Senate, and he clearly has his eye on the seat of 84-year-old Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who is expected to win re-election to a record fifth term tomorrow.  Rothman and other Democrats are already planning as if the Senate seat will open up in 2014, and the harsh reality is that many of the potential candidates get that it might not take that long.  An Obama administration post doesn't necessarily take Rothman out of contention for a U.S. Senate seat (indeed, it could actually propel him past other Democratic Congressmen), unless the seat opens up within the next year or two.  

If Rothman leaves, the front runner to replace him was supposed to be State Sen. Paul Sarlo.  But recent health issues for the 40-year-old Bergen County Democrat are considered serious, and that could take Sarlo out of the race if there is a special election early next year.  

Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes would almost certainly run in a special; he's got $500,000 in a federal campaign account -- and without Sarlo in the race, he's probably the preferred candidate of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.  Ferriero may have more important things to worry about next year than who succeeds Rothman in Congress.

State Sen. Robert Gordon, who is acceptable to both factions of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, would be an extraordinarily formidable candidate for Congress.  The former Fair Lawn Mayor ran once before, in the 1996 Democratic primary against Rothman when Robert Torricelli gave up the seat to run for U.S. Senator.

Don't discount State Sen. Loretta Weinberg as a congressional candidate.  At 72, she's still a dozen years younger than Lautenberg, and isn't likely to sit back and let Sarlo or Wildes go to Washington without a fight.  Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, a Weinberg ally, is another possible candidate.

If Rothman were to resign, it would be up to Governor Jon Corzine to call a special election during the year.  If he doesn't, the nomination would be filled in the June 2009 primary and the seat would remain empty until voters replace Rothman in a November 2009 general election.  Corzine, who opted to leave Bob Mennedez's House seat vacant for ten months in 2006,  may not want a special election for Congress competiting with his own campaign for Governor next fall.