Plan B Forum

So you may have heard by now that my US Senator, Frank Lautenberg (D-BlueJersey), went and vacated his seat yesterday even though he had already announced he was not running for reelection next year and was retiring at the end of his currnent term. Which leaves Gov. Chris Christie (R-ObamaLover) in the position of appointing a new Senator to complete the term (or until a special election, which may or may not be this November, who knows, but that's another twist).

So, with a closely divided Senate, Christie's appointment of a Republican seems like a given. But, if he appoints someone acceptable to socially liberal New Jerseyans, he alienates the right wing GOP Taliban he needs to turn out for him in a 2016 presidential run (is "run" really an appropriate word to use with this guy? He had a limo take him 100 yards from a helicopter to his kid's baseball game.). If he appoints a Teabagger, he has just given away 10-15 points to Barbara Buono, who is right now running (weakly) against him for governor (today are the NJ primaries); that could be just the thing to invigorate her campaign. Or does he appoint Newark mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat, who would be running for and winning the seat by 25 points in the next election anyway? A Booker appointment would have the added frisson of poking Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver in the eye, if he wants to play that game. Or does he appoint a non-controversial elder statesman as a place-holder, like former Gov. Tom Kean, Sr? Or does he appoint someone who's been giving him political difficulty at home in order to clear the decks and make room for someone he can work with? Or does he appoint a competent senior legislator from either the Assembly or State Senate? Or does he appoint a weak Congressman from a swing district (I'm looking at you, Jon Runyan, you sad NJ-3 rep) to open the field for a stronger Republican candidate? Or does he appoint his Lieutenant Governor, who's got little to do anyway besides cutting ribbons but would be the first woman Senator from NJ?

So many choices! What's a governor to do?

Appoint you?

Crackpot wrote:Appoint you?

Not bloody likely. Besides, I can't afford to be a Senator. (If I could get a nomination to the federal judiciary I might consider doing that. The amenities are sweet!)

Okay, forget everything I just said. This afternoon, Christie announced that rather than appoint a replacement he's calling for a special election, with primaries in August and the election in October. (And then we vote again for Governor in November. What?)

Politically, it's a shrewd move, as it removes the entire issue from the governor's race. And in particular, a Senate election on the same day as the gubernatorial vote could really bring out the D vote and drive down Christie's own numbers.

So Senator Booker, what's your pleasure?

Christie announced a couple of hours ago that there will be primaries in August, and a special election Oct. 16th. (The thinking is that he didn't want to have it on the same day as his election because even though he's leading Buono by as much as 30 points in some polls, he doesn't just want a win he wants a landslide; and having Booker on the ballot on the same day could cost him that.)

I think the chance that he will appoint a hardcore Tea Party type are next to none, and the possibility that he would appoint Booker are absolutely none.

The smart money seems to be on former Gov. Tom Keane Sr., who is clearly the safest pick...

ETA : cross posted.

Sue, even though there's going to be a special election, Christie is still going to appoint someone to represent NJ in the Senate for the next few months.

Lord Jim wrote: Sue, even though there's going to be a special election, Christie is still going to appoint someone to represent NJ in the Senate for the next few months.

Yeah, during the summer recess. I wouldn't even bother renting a room.