Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Will Lautenberg get Byrned?

Blue Jersey is reporting that Tom Byrne, former Democratic state chairman and son of the former governor, is considering a primary challenge to U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg.

If Byrne jumps in, will Congressmen and Senator wannabees Frank Pallone, Rush Holt and/or Robert Andrews also join the race?

Murray Sabrin wants Byrne to resign as former state chairman.

1 comment:

ESedler said...

I don't see the state Dems allowing it to get further then a poll...they haven't had a bloody primary in a while.

Here's my theory though: No bloody primary and then Lautenberg steps down (if he can get past his stubborness..which is maybe why you see this coming out is because a number of people believe Lautenberg won't bow down to state party wihses). If Lautenberg bows down state Dems either reward Andrews who got passed over several times or reward Pallone for being the attack dog of Chris Christie. If Norcross pushes Andrews the state party may finally reward him and Norcross buys himself a US Senate seat possibility...but it's important to remember Andrews wasn't originally a Norcross boy. I'm pretty sure the two are allies to a point now otherwise Andrews would have been primary challenged maybe, but Norcross could screw him over for not being an original Norcross boy.

If Byrne does enter and theseams start ripping expect all hell to possibly break loose. If the state dem party ever let's a bloody primary happen it'll be absolutely amazing to see what happens. On the one hand you have people like Andrews and Pallone who have been good lil soldiers who would be really ticked off at Byrne for breaking the "code". On the other hand if either enters and the state Dems lose grip, then there are plenty of others aching for a shot. Steve Rothman up in Bergen backed Obama and would make a good case that he deserves a shot since he was the highest one out there for Obama (should Obama get the nomination). Hudson County would want to get their hands on the seat, except who knows what faction it would come from (Cory Booker faction, Brian Stack Faction, actual HCDO faction?!) Bill Pascrell may want something for being Pallone's partner in crime and there could certainly be more.

It'd be the equivalent of a Dem apocolaypse, which I can't remember happening statewide in a while..you'd know more though, I'm somewhat new to the scene.