New Jersey Dems Planning A ‘Lautenberg’?
With New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez suddenly sliding in the polls due to revelations that he is under Federal investigation, speculation has been running high that the New Jersey Democrats may actually try to pull off another 'Lautenberg' and pull a last minute switcheroo. Substituting a recycled politician for one who is in criminal trouble may become a way of life in New Jersey. Republicans in the state legislature are trying to block that from happening, though.
Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) yesterday called on Gov. Jon Corzine and Democratic legislators to act quickly to strengthen a law preventing a political party from switching candidates within 48 days of Election Day.
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Next Wednesday will be the 48th day before Election Day, Nov. 7, the date set by current law for replacing a candidate who was nominated in a primary. In 2002, the state Supreme Court allowed the Democrats to replace then-Sen. Robert Torricelli with Frank Lautenberg although the deadline had passed, ruling that the law did not prohibit it. Lautenberg went on to defeat Republican Doug Forrester.
Lance's bill (S1186) seeks to block that from happening again by making clear "the Legislature's intent" that only in the case of a candidate's death can a substitution be made less than 48 days before the election.
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The Democratic-controlled upper house would have to approve removing the measure from the State Government Committee — where it has been stalled since 2004 — something unlikely to happen.
"This is an academic exercise and an irrelevant political stunt that is moot in the context of this election," said Anthony Coley, a Corzine spokesman. "Bob Menendez was the governor's choice to replace him in the Senate in January. He is the governor's choice today, and he will remain the governor's choice through Election Day."
"Quite frankly, I think this effort is unnecessary," Codey said in a statement. "We should not be changing election law on a political whim."
Which eerily echoes the way the party supported Robert Torricelli right up to the time they threw him under the bus in the first 'Lautenberg'. Well, they can deny it all they want, but we here at Blue Crab Boulevard have discovered the TRUTH™ of the matter. Our skilled operatives from the Magic 8-Ball Private Eye Service and Haberdashery, Inc. managed to sneak into a secret meeting of the Democratic party higher-ups disguised as a large potted fern. He overheard the actually conversation when the inner circle of the party decided on who they would nominate after they threw Menendez to the wolves. They had to really reach way back to find a clean enough candidate with enough name recognition this time, though. We even have a picture of the candidate!
Yes, that's right. The New Jersey state Democratic party will nominate Grover Cleveland to take the place of the soon to depart Robert Menendez. Our operative overheard one official object, "But he's DEAD!" To which the head of the committee replied, "That doesn't stop people here from voting, why should it stop him from holding office?"
You heard it here first.
Other Links to this Post
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » NJ Democrats Begin Warming Up — September 20, 2006 @ 9:55 am
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » Menendez Meltdown Marches On — September 28, 2006 @ 8:36 am
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » Kean Leads Menendez — September 30, 2006 @ 7:07 am
