May 6, 2008 - 4:46pm
Lautenberg accepts a debate
By Matt FriedmanIncumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg has accepted his first debate for the Democratic nomination, but Rob Andrews’s campaign said that he needs to participate in more.
Lautenberg will participate in a televised debate on NJN, to be held Friday, May 30th at 8:00 p.m. at the network’s studios – just a few days before the June 3rd primary.
A Lautenberg press release said that he was the first candidate to accept the debate. But Andrews Campaign Chairman Michael Murphy said that one debate, held so close to the primary and on a night when so few people watch television is not good enough. Moreover, he said, the Andrews campaign reached out to NJN weeks ago and told them that they would accept any debate.
The network also invited Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, who's also running for the nomination.
“The reality is that we have accepted a dozen invitations to the debate and Frank has now apparently accepted one on a Friday, 72 hours before the polls open,” said Murphy. “It’s an interesting spin but it’s embarrassingly silly.”
Murphy said that he’d like Lautenberg to participate in prime time network television debates as well, but that Andrews would definitely participate in the NJN one.
“If Frank is going to be in front of a camera, we’ll be there with him.”
Lautenberg spokeswoman Julie Roginsky said that the campaign is "in the process of reviewing other options" for debates.
“This is just the first debate we’re announcing. And I think it’s offensive of Mike Murphy, who’s been on NJN many times, to disparage New Jersey’s only public television station," she said.“We agree with congressman Andrews and Mayor Cresitello that there should be an opp to debate why Frank Lautenberg has been fighting for NJ while Rob Andrews is fighting for George Bush’s principles.”
Contributors
Wally Edge
Besides giving a shout out to Wally Edge at Wednesday's New Jersey Legislative Correspondents Association Dinner ("As Wally always says, ... >
Bob Torricelli
Everything that I admire and fear about the Democratic Party was on display this week. The compassion for creating affordable housing and the ... >
Michael Patrick Carroll
McCain announce his intention to appoint real judges, and both teh Times and the Journal muff the story. >
Debbie Holtz
Let’s get this straight. Does U.S. Attorney Chris Christie think he only has a role to play when there’s a violation of US federal ... >
Steve Lonegan
FOR 190 YEARS, New Jersey had no income tax and no sales tax. As recently as 1966, it had only the third-highest property taxes in the nation.
>
Dr. Joseph Marbach
The budget proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine has produced myriad negative reactions, featuring various interests seeking to limit the impact of the cuts ... >
Rob Tornoe
NATIONAL CARTOON: Bush sacrificed golf for the troops >
Michael P. Riccards
With her victory by ten points in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton has re emerged as a very viable candidate for the Democratic nomination. It is ... >
Carla Katz
A hugely misguided attempt to eliminate the Department of Agriculture is the spark which has lit an angry fire which took over West State street ... >
Poll
PolitickerNJ Partners
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Does Lautenberg have an Unanue problem?
- Election Results: Vas defeated in Perth Amboy, Barse loses in Vineland, Orechio upset in Nutley
- Updated: Handicapping the Senate & House primaries
- Gov. Corzine’s powerpoint presentation at the Legislative Correspondents dinner
- Upset of the night: Vas loses re-election in Perth Amboy
- Will Bennett replace Puharic?
- The future of Joe Vas
- Alleging retaliatory harassment, Katz sues CWA officials
- Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win
- Menendez picks O'Brien to replace Zapien
- Dr. Bones goes to Washington
- PoliticsNJ.com Power List 2007
- Eleven arrested in bribery scandal
- Lyndhurst GOP, nearly all of them, switching parties
- Lobbyist arrested
- Governor Paralysis
- Who is the best State Party Chairman in New Jersey
- KYRILLOS, BECK, KEAN & HANDLIN VOW WORK TO KEEP SEASTREAK FERRY UP AND RUNNING
- Two N.J. super delegates go to Obama; Norcross backs Obama; key Clinton supporters endorse Obama
- At energy policy meeting, Rose fights with cabinet and walks away
Quote of the Day
May 16, 2008
"The saying about Dominicans is that we have two things in our blood — baseball and politics. We are passionate about politics, and just about getting involved."
-- Cid Wilson, a Leonia resident and past president of the national Dominican American National Roundtable, on the growing influence of Dominicans in New Jersey politics.
-The Record, 5/16/08
Recent Press Releases
In the News
Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
Passaic freeholder breaks ranks to back Andrews― The Record
Republican primary bloodbaths leave Democrats smiling― PolitickerNJ.com
Dominicans flex their political muscle― The Record
Zimmer spells out a McCain-like health care plan― Star-Ledger
Are Democrats making peace with the'burbs?― Star-Ledger
Where GOP rivals stand in New Jersey's Third― Philadelphia Inquirer
Labor leader sues union officials for retaliation― Star-Ledger
Hawkins and Codey celebrate big win― PolitickerNJ.com
Romano and slate sweep Team Barse― The Daily Journal
PolitickerNJ.com Jobs
Syndicate
Cynical
He'll have an excuse not to make it to that one, knowing that news reports about elections typically end the weekend before.
Frank is too late, too little!
Wow, a debate on May 30th. That's too early for voters to make an opinion of Frank's ability to speak. Let's move it up to June 2nd in order to give voters more time to reflect on what Frank said during the debate.
Don't "Andrews" me.
Question #1 Hon Rob Andrews, Explain the reason that you did not run in the Republican primary. Question #2 Did you ever lie to your fellow congressmen? Just a "Yes" or "No" answer will do. Question #3 Do you want to be US Senator or Governor? Question #4 Do you really want to answer Question #3? End of Debate. Let's vote.
NJN?
All three viewers will enjoy the debate.
Actually It's Andrews That's Been Ducking The Debates...
Robert Andrews wanted to run for Senate so bad that he was willing to go back on his word, and to keep his candidacy under wraps until the last minute; thereby obviating the need to debate the people that would have been his opponents had he been honest and upfront about his intent to run.
Now Andrews has "successfully" weaseled out of debating Holt, Pallone, Rothman and whomever else would have filed if the agreement not to have a bloody and divisive primary had never been agreed to.
What Andrews did was low and sleazy; even by New Jersey standards. What Andrews did is right down there at the Lieberman level.
Andrews doesn't deserve to be on the same platform with Frank Lautenberg. If there's any justice his political carreer in NJ will be 100% kaput after he loses the primary.
I can think of a dozen ads I'd love to see Lautenberg run. I hope the Lautenberg campaign has the will to fully and aggressively expose the fatal flaws at the foundation the Andrews candidacy.
Though I suspect they'll want to avoid a complete evisceration as they don't want to alienate the many good Democrats who have fallen for the Andrews line of bull.
This is hilarious-Frank is a slick one!
No one, not even Kent Manahan, watches NJN. Kent powders her nose between takes and exits quickly after the show....Lautenberg by 5 points!
Question #1
Senator Lautenberg, are you awake?
"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
--Theodore Roosevelt--
Question #2
Are you sure?
"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
--Theodore Roosevelt--
Wow a debate 4 days before the election
What a joke!. FL agrees to debate on Friday at 8:00 PM, polls open Tuesday at 7:00 AM. What a joke!. I'd give odds that FL oversleeps or finds some other excuse for not even appearing for the one debate.
FL, it's time to retire!.
Gotta side with SJBlue on this one
Is the timing kind of lame? Yes. But FL did agree to a debate. You know, Andrews is the challenger here, he's not the champ. Usually these things are dictated on the champ's terms. You don't always get a 2nd chance. He's going to have to make the best of it.
At least he's getting a chance to speak his peace. Seriously, while it bothers me that the debate is 3-4 days before the election, if Andrews really wanted seven debates (or even realistically two) he shouldn't have waited until March-April to announce his candidacy.