The guy the GOP wanted: young, conservative, Latino -- and rich!
By Wally EdgeThe candidate the GOP establishment wanted -- Andy Unanue, a 40-year-old self-funding conservative millionaire Latino from Bergen County – began informing party leaders on Easter Sunday that he would enter the U.S. Senate race. That gives those party leaders who were actively seeking an alternative to State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) and Ron Paul campaign leader Murray Sabrin a viable choice in the race to challenge Frank Lautenberg.
Two other prospective candidates are still in the mix: State Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) and Atlantic County Dennis Levinson. Neither has demonstrated that “fire-in-the-belly” thing, and GOP insiders do not expect them to run.
Unanue’s newborn campaign has just four days to make a splash: Republican conventions in Atlantic and Ocean counties are scheduled for Thursday.
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Andy Unanue
Welcome aboard, Mr. Unanue. You have my full support!
"Liberals are people who will believe anything...twice."- William F. Buckley
It's the economy, stupid, and finances, stupid
No further comments.
Has Everyone Forgot Doug Forrester's MILLIONS
I guess his unknown positions on all those important issues sold you on him, huh Dino?
Forrester this, Forrester that
Its getting old now. Forrester and Kean both lost. But you know what, conserative Todd Caliguire lost by a far wider margin in Bergen County than Tom Kean in 06.
And from the looks of things, Murray Sabrin appears to the be the next Todd Caliguire.
A.J.
Actually, not being Jerky Joe or Murray the Maniac was what sold me on him.
Let's find out the facts about Andy before we start the Forrester comparisons as well. Doug Forrester was a dud because he was an extremely negative and nasty campaigner, as is Murray Sabrin.
I may not know much, if anything about Andy Unanue but one thing I do know is despite that, he's already a far more viable and electable candidate than the other two.
Andy Unanue gives me hope that we finally have a candidate that will not abandon New Jersey's urban centers in Hudson, Essex and Passaic which will help in Bergen County where the party line is badly damged since the Hudson machine would have to defend itself rather than be in a position to run on cruise control and pump money into Bergen.
Hopefully, a website will be up soon.
"Liberals are people who will believe anything...twice."- William F. Buckley
Dino
That was well said.
Andy
Is a much better candidate than Jersey Joe or Murray S. (at least on paper). He still has a huge uphill battle and I wiould still expect him to lose to FL.
Let the issues flow.
When will NJ elections for the House and the Senate clearly be about national issues and their effect on NJ?
"When will NJ elections for
"When will NJ elections for the House and the Senate clearly be about national issues and their effect on NJ?"
Quite frankly, when New Jersey voters actually start to give a rat's ass about them.
"Liberals are people who will believe anything...twice."- William F. Buckley
Dino ?
Do I read this right? You think that AU will give the D's trouble in Hudson so they have to spend thier money there? Just my opinion, but for that to happen you would have to spend more AU (see Periodic Table:) than even AU has...
Ideological Nuts
Look, I'm a conservative, but I think we are quick to forget that were in New Jersey, where 73% of the population identifies as "pro-choice." Its not the South, and NJ has in its recent history (30 years or so), only elected Moderate Republicans, and even then only by tiny margins.
The two other candidates are in reality, probably too conservive for NJ. It's a reality, and if you don't get used to it, you'll just be sitting at home, content you've nominated your dream conservative candidate, who promptly goes to get THRASHED in November to Lauty.
I'd rather win, and maybe switch control of the Senate if we're lucky (We'd need to be VERY lucky though)
Murray isnt Caliguire
Caliguire had no grasp of the issues like Murray does, he was simply an arch-conservative Ken Doll it seemed.
Caliguire a "conservative"???
This is the guy who ran for Governor in 2005 calling himself a "Tom Kean Republican"
Only next to Kathy Donovan did Caliguire look conservative, and that was only a result of rhetoric, not philosophy. It's now Day Two of the Unanaue campaign. Let's see how long it takes him to take a stand on anything controversial.
Technically speaking....
The Unanue campaign hasn't officially launched yet.
REALITY CHECK
1) Frank Lautenberg always runs campaigns about the other person.
2) Frankl Lautenberg will have $10-$20 million. Neither Pennachio nor Sabrin will even get close to $5 million. Campaign 101: use your advantage (in this case money) to dominate the race.
3) Sabrin is on the record for legalized drugs and prostitution. The Pennachio manifesto provides a similar wealth of material to be attacked and defined with.
4) Conclusion: They may be smart guys with nice ideas, but the reality is they can't beat Lautenberg and the positions they staked out (regardless of when) will make them a huge liability that will hurt the GOP's chances in CD 7 and CD 3, not to mention the downballot races. If either of these critically flawed candidates are the nominee, they get trounced 70-30.
Pro-choice, pro-illegal immigration.
A democrat in Republican clothing. a RINO.
Well, GOP conservatives can skip this race. No need for real Republicans in the NJGOP...again.
How about we just endorse Lautenberg and make it easier for everyone?