Bye-bye NJ senate seat.

[nickshepDEM]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- New Jersey Gov.-elect Jon Corzine will name Rep. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, as his successor in the U.S. Senate, multiple New Jersey Democratic sources told CNN Wednesday.

Menendez will serve the remaining year of Corzine's Senate term in 2006 while launching his own campaign for a full six-year term, the sources said.

Menendez was chosen over a handful of other Democrats being considered for the appointment, including Rep. Robert Andrews and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., the sources said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/07/senate.menendez/index.html


I guess its a little premature to say the race is over now, but this race just became one of the Republicans top pickup opportunities. Id even go as far as to say Lean-Republican.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Rats. I was really hoping for Pallone...

This could've been worse, though.

[Mass]

2. Did Corzine really decide or are some power-brokers in the NJ democratic

party trying to force the deal?

It seems from the article that Corzine's spokeperson was not exactly enthusiastic about that. This seems weird.

A Corzine spokeswoman, Ivette Mendez, described any discussion of the appointment as "speculative" and noted that "your sources do not speak for Jon Corzine."

[win_in_06]

3. I wonder who the repugs will run?

[Mass]

5. Tom Keane Jr, apparently.

This is at least what Tom Keane was saying Sunday in MTP.

[SteppingRazor]

6. They'll run state senator Tom Kean...

The Kean family name is big in Jersey politics. This seat will be our hardest to hold onto, but I'm still not losing a whole lot of sleep over it.

[nickshepDEM]

7. Tom Kean Jr. Son of extremely popular former Governor Tom Kean Sr.

Kean and Kean Jr. are both moderate to liberal Republicans. Definitely in the mold that can win in the North East.

[Zynx]

18. His father's re-election bid in '85 garnered the largest percentage

in any NJ gubernatorial race ever.

[ProSense]

9. Libby Dole pushes Kean Jr.

Reasons To Be Dubious of Elizabeth Dole's Claims About Tom Kean Jr.
Dec 6, 2005
By: Phil Singer, DSCC

For years, national Republicans have unsuccessfully aimed for victory in New Jersey, spending time and money in the state only to come up short. And now, national Republicans are at it again as they hype Tom Kean Jr. as one of their best hopes for picking up a democratic Senate seat in 2006. But the fact is that Kean has been an ineffective state legislator and his close ties to the national party will only hurt him. The outcome in 2006 will be no different than 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were for the GOP.

1) KEAN HAS A THIN RECORD AS A STATE LEGISLATOR

Kean Was Ineffective Assemblyman. In 2003, the AP reported, “despite his political pedigree as the son of one of New Jersey's most popular governors, the Republican's resume from his two years in the Assembly was thin.”

Local Paper Questioned Kean’s Effectiveness. In 2003, the Courier News editorial board wrote, “Kean remains a bit more style than substance… He says a lot of the right things, but politically we'd like more from Kean than simply being the son of the respected former governor.”

Democrat Criticized Kean For Not Bothering to Read Bill Before Voting. In March 2004, Democratic Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr. criticized Kean for claiming not to know about a provision in a new law. Roberts wrote, “a self-proclaimed reformer such as Kean should actually read the ethics-related bills that he votes on.”

http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20051206_keanjr/

[snowbear]

4. What's the scoop on Robert Menendez?

Why didn't you want him selected? Can you fill us in on him? ~ Thanks!

edit --> (this guy) -->

[DeepModem Mom]

8. No Dem should EVER voluntarily give up a Senate seat...

while he/she remains alive, even if on life support!!! Damn Corzine for deciding he'd rather be governor. Why did Graham retire in Florida, for example, giving that seat to a Republican? We need all the power of incumbency we can get, and we need all the Senate seats we can get.

[Awsi Dooger]

19. I guess I'm in the minority

I prioritize governors far ahead of senators, not remotely close. Get Democratic governors everywhere spreading influence and filling positions and the benefits eventually flow to the top. I applaud Corzine for making the move.

But I agree with others this isn't the most inspired choice. I preferred Rush Holt. This is another example we need an all powerful party chief who dictates decisions like this. I don't want Jon Corzine thinking he knows who's best or trying to handicap something without any previous experience doing so. A cutthroat astute party boss who does nothing but evaluate every state and candidate and situation is far more likely to pick the best general election candidate than a guy who may be influenced by which potential nominee he knows, or likes the best.

[Teaser]

10. Still lean Dem in my book but

this was an uninspired choice.

[DaveinMD]

11. don't be so quick

New Jersey is a Democratic state. If he runs a good campaign, he can win.

[nickshepDEM]

13. True... But Id much rather spend the funds and energy elsewhere.

[ISUGRADIA]

12. Jeez, The only poll I've seen on this race had it a tossup

with Menendez. I think he'll win for us in 2006.

[Ignacio Upton]

14. I bet the power brokers picked Menendez

He is the worst choice out of any of the possible Senate appointments. Rush Holt and Nia Gill were the best out of the potential choices (although Codey would have better than both, he wasn't interested.) Menendez has quite a few skeletons in his closet. Hispanic groups also wanted Corzine to pick him (this is the only thing Menendez has going for him, but other than his ethnicity, he doesn't help us in this Senate race.

[AX10]

15. Dems will keep the seat through a hard fight.

We really cannot afford this right now.

[karynnj]

16. Definitely not lean Republican

NJ voters are among the most sophisticated in the nation and we have had some of the strangest politics anywhere. The question of who will you to caucus with is an extremely important question. Bush is detested and people know that every Senate seat the Republicans get could make things worse.

In 2002, when the Senate was still in Democratic hands, the fear that the loss of the NJ seat due to Torrecelli's likely corruption kept him in the lead or near the lead. One poll was done that allowed people to say the were voting for him but were disgusted. Then he was essentially bpushed out and former Sen Lautenberg ran and won.

If Menendez is bad, he will likely get a primary challange if not he'll likely win.

[jackbourassa]

17. What's wrong with Menendez?

He's ranked the fourth most "progressive" Dem in the House.