The NJ GOP’s recruitment saga for the race against Sen. Frank Lautenberg is a well-known farce by now. But could Republicans actually pull one out of the fire here and recruit a respectable challenger? PolitickerNJ says that they just might:
Biotech millionaire John Crowley is now close to entering the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, after receiving calls from several GOP Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, urging him to run, according to Republican sources.
Other sources said that Crowley spoke with one Republican Senate candidate, Andy Unanue, tonight and told him that he is now likely to run. Unanue has told some GOP leaders that he would withdraw from the race if Crowley gets in.
Crowley spoke at length today with Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who urged him to run and committed resources if he does. At least five other Republican Senators also reportedly lobbied Crowley, whose efforts to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that affects two of his three children has caused Republican leaders to view the political newcomer as a potentially strong Senate candidate.
Perhaps Crowley and the NRSC are heartened by Dem Rep. Rob Andrews’ primary challenge of Lautenberg, and hope that Crowley could capitalize on the weaknesses of Lautenberg that Andrews will highlight in his primary bid.
Hmm, that may be bad news for Lautenberg, but then again the Republicans have been wasting money in Jersey for years, so I’m not too worried, yet.
….would put this race in play. As for the Democratic primary, it could get a bit divisive, as Andrews is more of a centrist.
This could be a possible loss for the Dems if the presidential race collapes. Obama is still struggling in New Jersey against McCain.