Send In The Clowns: Jersey GOP Candidates Make For Good Comedy
Meet the GOP candidates for Senate in New Jersey. They're quite a colorful bunch.
One of the most frustrating Senate races for the Republicans this cycle has to be New Jersey, where the GOP has been struggling to recruit a candidate who isn't unhealthy, a boozer, a crank, or an out-and-out loon.
A recent Quinnipiac poll gave Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) only a 39% approval rating to 31% disapproval, with only 32% saying he deserves to be re-elected, and a solid 58% saying he is too old. On paper, he would seem to be vulnerable.
The problem is, New Jersey is very much a Democratic state, and the state GOP is a mess. With unpopular Democrats routinely getting re-elected over lackluster or even decent Republican nominees, the Republicans need a very good candidate to win.
And they don't appear to have one — far from it, in fact. Meet the GOP candidates, after the jump.
Andy Unanue: A former executive at Goya Foods, the family business. Unanue announced his candidacy late last week, via a phone call from his vacation home in the ski slopes of Colorado. It turns out he lost his position at Goya when it was alleged he repeatedly showed up to work drunk or hung over. Unanue denies having been to work drunk, but did confirm he was at times hung over: "Work hard, play hard. That was my motto."
Joe Pennacchio: A state Senator from the GOP stronghold of Morris County. His campaign was badly hurt last week when it came out that in 1991 he wrote a lengthy manifesto for a proposed "Nationalist Party," containing such proposals as putting domestic military bases to use as labor camps for the homeless, and having the government distribute RU-486 in order to fight unwanted pregnancies as part of a family-planning policy. The scandal prompted the party to recruit Unanue.
Murray Sabrin: A college professor, 1997 Libertarian nominee for governor, 2000 candidate for Senate as a Republican, and a fervent Ron Paul supporter. His frequently-used slogan is that he wants to "Legalize Freedom," and he is a fierce opponent of the Iraq War and most other national Republican policies.
Also, businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook was originally the establishment choice, but she consistently trailed Lautenberg in the polls and failed to take hard positions on many issues. She dropped out recently, after suffering a mild stroke.
Good luck, New Jersey Republicans. You'll need it.
Comments (8)
What about Hal Turner?
March 26, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats that run our state are horrible, but the GOP always manages to field horrible candidates. Jon freaking Corzine won the gubernatorial election for crying out loud. If a Christine Todd Whitman showed up, the state would overwhelmingly go for her
March 26, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats aren't as strong in New Jersey as they think. It's not like Utah is to the Republicans, but the GOP needs to get serious there. Frank Lautenberg isn't a good senator and I hope the GOP comes up with a serious candidate there.
What's more, President Bush made a weak showing in New York and most of the Northeast in 2004 but he kept New Jersey very competitive. John McCain has a real opportunity at winning this state come November, especially if Barack Obama is the nominee.
March 26, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
What?
How do you figure NJ will go to McCain?!?
March 26, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats may not be that loved in NJ, but the GOP is even more despised. Both state parties are corrupt, but the Democratic Party (especially at the national level) is much more ideologically in line with New Jersey residents than the Republicans. Besides, Lautenberg has done a fair job of representing the state. His age has been raised as a concern. I don't think his age should be an issue any more than McCain's age should be unless there there is some evidence that his age has somehow effected his mental or physical ability to serve. Among the Republicans, former Governor Tom Keane sr. is the only one who would have a real chance against Lautenberg. I haven't read anything about Keane having any interest in running. I do, however, agree with an earlier post that NJ is not as blue as Utah is red. I would say that NJ is as blue as say a state like Georgia is red.
March 26, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is the speculation that Rudy is being recruited for this dead?
I heard that both Rudy and Bloomberg both are interested in running for NY Governor, but that - given how formidable Bloomberg is - Giuliani might consider hopping across the river.
So, this isn't going to happen?
March 26, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frankly I do not live in New Jersey and furthermore, the folks in New Jersey have a right to chose whomever they want as their Senator. Look, we ended up with George W. Bush as president and he was of an age that probably everyone thought was fine. Brains, Political common sense and honesty have nothing to do with being old or young. They are matters of integrity and ability to analyze an issue correctly. So, the GOP, having elected Bush twice, have shown that they seldom vote on the basis of good reasoning and common sense. Nuff said!!!!
March 27, 2008 2:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joe Pennacchio: A state Senator from the GOP stronghold of Morris County. His campaign was badly hurt last week when it came out that in 1991 he wrote a lengthy manifesto for a proposed "Nationalist Party,"
A typo, I think. Sounds like he meant National Socialist.
April 4, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink