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05-05-2008, 06:04 PM
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Home News Opinion Media Wake-Up Call Press Releases Lists Winners / Losers Jobs About Us Today's news from PolitickerNJ.comSubmitted by evan.weinberger on May 5, 2008 - 6:32am.
Democrats divided
When Democrats gathered around U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg at the Trenton Marriott on the last day of March, they thought they were starting another easy reelection campaign.
But two days later, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, a Camden County Democrat, leaped into the June 3 primary against Lautenberg. Ever since, the two men have been acting like a couple of street fighters, and their personal battle is becoming a party-wide rumble.
Ron Ruff, the party chairman in Atlantic County, who drove two hours to make the Lautenberg event, got on the phone with Lautenberg's campaign a few days later. He explained that with a new candidate in the race, he would be shifting his support.
Joe Ferriero, the Democratic chairman of vote-rich Bergen County, waffled but returned to Lautenberg's side.
The AFL-CIO withdrew its endorsement of Lautenberg and decided to stay neutral.
Six of the state's seven Democratic congressmen have urged Andrews to pull out of the race, saying he had broken his promise to support Lautenberg and was helping the Republicans.
All this and more is going on because Andrews broke the rule in the political party guidebook that says: Thou shalt not run against the incumbent, even if you're incapable of containing your ambition. (Cynthia Burton, The Inquirer)
The age question
Lois Forman just had the argument with one of her sons: At 81, she was thinking about rekindling her writing career.
"He said, 'Mom, do you think anybody would hire an 80-year-old writer?'" Forman said. She bristled.
"Just saying to somebody you're 80, and therefore you've just died, is the wrong approach to age in general."
It's a debate all too familiar to backers of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who at 84 is seeking another six-year term in Washington. Polls have shown voters are worried Lautenberg's age could hamstring his ability to get the job done.
His leading challenger in the June 3 Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1st Dist.) is advertising his 50-year-old vitality, hammering the incumbent over a "tired" campaign and challenging him to debates. (Claire Heininger, Star-Ledger)
Home News Opinion Media Wake-Up Call Press Releases Lists Winners / Losers Jobs About Us Today's news from PolitickerNJ.comSubmitted by evan.weinberger on May 5, 2008 - 6:32am.
Democrats divided
When Democrats gathered around U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg at the Trenton Marriott on the last day of March, they thought they were starting another easy reelection campaign.
But two days later, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, a Camden County Democrat, leaped into the June 3 primary against Lautenberg. Ever since, the two men have been acting like a couple of street fighters, and their personal battle is becoming a party-wide rumble.
Ron Ruff, the party chairman in Atlantic County, who drove two hours to make the Lautenberg event, got on the phone with Lautenberg's campaign a few days later. He explained that with a new candidate in the race, he would be shifting his support.
Joe Ferriero, the Democratic chairman of vote-rich Bergen County, waffled but returned to Lautenberg's side.
The AFL-CIO withdrew its endorsement of Lautenberg and decided to stay neutral.
Six of the state's seven Democratic congressmen have urged Andrews to pull out of the race, saying he had broken his promise to support Lautenberg and was helping the Republicans.
All this and more is going on because Andrews broke the rule in the political party guidebook that says: Thou shalt not run against the incumbent, even if you're incapable of containing your ambition. (Cynthia Burton, The Inquirer)
The age question
Lois Forman just had the argument with one of her sons: At 81, she was thinking about rekindling her writing career.
"He said, 'Mom, do you think anybody would hire an 80-year-old writer?'" Forman said. She bristled.
"Just saying to somebody you're 80, and therefore you've just died, is the wrong approach to age in general."
It's a debate all too familiar to backers of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who at 84 is seeking another six-year term in Washington. Polls have shown voters are worried Lautenberg's age could hamstring his ability to get the job done.
His leading challenger in the June 3 Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1st Dist.) is advertising his 50-year-old vitality, hammering the incumbent over a "tired" campaign and challenging him to debates. (Claire Heininger, Star-Ledger)