April 2, 2008 - 10:29pm

After speaking to McCain, Crowley now leaning toward Senate bid

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is now close to entering the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, after receiving calls from several GOP Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, urging him to run, according to Republican sources.

Other sources said that Crowley spoke with one Republican Senate candidate, Andy Unanue, tonight and told him that he is now likely to run. Unanue has told some GOP leaders that he would withdraw from the race if Crowley gets in.

Crowley spoke at length today with Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who urged him to run and committed resources if he does. At least five other Republican Senators also reportedly lobbied Crowley, whose efforts to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that affects two of his three children has caused Republican leaders to view the political newcomer as a potentially strong Senate candidate.

The Mercer County Republican Executive Committee voted tonight to award the line to Crowley, a Princeton resident, if he runs.  If Crowley does not run, the party voted to support Unanue over the other two candidates, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin.

Earlier today, Rep. Rob Andrews said he would challenge the incumbent, Frank Lautenberg, in the Democratic primary.

Crowley, 40, announced on Monday that he would not run, citing business, military (he serves in the U.S. Army Reserves) and family commitments.

"I think the fact that Democrats and Republicans are both having contested primaries means we will have five to eight weeks of discussions of ideas that will benefit both parties," Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. told PolitickerNJ.com tonight.

Comments

It's Getting Late...


I'm all for John getting in...but he sure is making us all sweat...lol.

04/02/08 10:57 pm

Stronger candidate


Crowley seems to be a stronger candidate than the current ones. If he wants to join the race he should hurry up.

04/02/08 11:17 pm

Helps Explain Some Dem's Desire to Get Andrews In Race


Apart form the usual North-South pissing match, the Dems may want an insurance policy against Crowley.

04/02/08 11:08 pm

FINALLY


FINALLY, a candidate I can support not simply because he's not the "Other Guy" This guy has an amazing life story, and a lot of dinero, but remember, before he made all of his money, he was just another guy, working to save his family.

04/02/08 11:11 pm

Why Not?


Hey, If Rob Andrews can enter the US Senate race for Dems today, then Crowley sure as heck can jump in the Republican race.

I know a lot of people who certainly have an open mind.

Plus, his people already have collected signatures.

Hopefully they didn't throw them out..haha.

04/02/08 11:18 pm

Hasn't this


poor guy's family been through enough? Does he need to expose them to the toxic environment of NJ politics too?  He should stay home, hug his kids, kiss his wife and leave the nasty business of politics to the nasty people.  He's too good for us.

04/02/08 11:26 pm

Oh Come On


Haven't we run enough rich white guys? When is the GOP going to realize it does not work in New Jersey, at least not for Republicans. Granted, Crowley looks great on paper but I have to agree with the last post. Is his family ready for this. It's politics and it gets nasty and I'd really hate to see his family go through it.

04/03/08 12:03 am

Re


Frank Lautenberg is rich and white. Rob Andrews is white (not sure if he's rich) and represents CAMDEN.

Try not to think in terms of simply color and race, because when you do that, THAT is when you lose.

04/03/08 12:04 am

I wonder how the Sabrin machine plans to handle this one.


 Looks like the grave diggers over in Sabrin Headquarters will be working a lot of overtime to try and bury this guy.

 Advice to Crowley: Just get ready for trench warfare, these guys play dirty.

 

04/03/08 12:15 am

This RINO Crowley has no idea what he is getting into


I'm sure Tom Wilson vetted him as well as he did Unanue.  Fall in line sheep in the Republican Establishment!

04/03/08 12:21 am

No one denies that Crowley has a great life story but...


How does that qualify him to be a US Senator? What issues has he worked on or service hes provided that make him worthy of it?

There is a difference between being a great guy which I'm sure he is and being an effective advocate for 8.8 million people. 

04/03/08 12:28 am

Crowley


John, up in! You're our ONLY chance to beat Lousenberg!!!

04/03/08 2:17 am

I'm Sick of the Whole Thing


And I'll tell you why I am sick of this whole race ..

We have heard the same reasons and soundbites for the following candidates:

Anne Estabrook

Andy Unanue

John Crowley

Each one was recruited and urged to run for the seat by Ensign and the various GOP Party Bosses, with hands out waiting for the checks to come in.

Crowley is being urged to enter the race by the same people who urged Unanue to enter the race JUST LAST WEEK, and he is still in the race, (I think, but he is still skiiing)

At some point, you have to sit back and just laugh at the Keystone Kop mentality of the NJ GOP, because this is truly a yuck fest ..

It's like the Party Bosses are running around in fast motion to the theme of the Benny Hill show. 

04/03/08 7:15 am

Well Rounded


Crowley seems to be the most well rounded candidate. Not only does he have foreign policy experience (he is a naval intelligence officer), but he has a background in law and business, with advanced degrees from two top notch schools. And the story about his children is compelling, and it demonstrates that he has a background in the healthcare industry, which is important considering the problems facing that industry today.

04/03/08 7:16 am

Wait until


he figures out that he has to have his petition in by Monday. 

04/03/08 9:20 am

AJ Sparxx


The difference with Crowley is that he is more conservative than Either Eastabrook or Unanue.  I hear he's pro-life as well.  He's an articulate communicator with a solid resume. 

04/03/08 9:46 am

Nice Change of Pace


That would be a welcome change to the rich candidates the NJ GOP have brought before us with Estabrook & Unanue.

This should be resolved within hours I'm sure, with only one working day left, (tomorrow), before the filing date, they need to get moving. 

04/03/08 10:04 am

Banish the thought


th NJ GOP aren't even as funny or talented as the late Benny Hill! They are just sad and sorry....

04/03/08 11:34 am

Mom in Low and Benny Hill


Benny Hill was a poster boy for the modern Lib chasing anything in a skirt.The libs do iw with tax payer dollars

04/07/08 7:49 pm