Joseph Buckalew

The buzz among Republican insiders over the last two days is that party leaders seem genuinely excited by the prospects of millionaire businessman Andy Unanue entering the race for United States Senator.  The former Chief Operating Officer of Goya Foods, one of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, makes an interesting candidate: a self-funder who his 44 years younger than the incumbent and can compete for Latino votes.

U.S. Marshal James Plousis has decided against seeking the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, becoming the third candidate promoted by party leaders to decline since Anne Evans Estabrook left the race last week.  Plousis, a former Cape May County Sheriff, told County Chairmen yesterday that he wants to continue as the federal marshal.

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio continues to look like the front runner for the Republican nomination to oppose four-term incumbent Frank Lautenberg this fall.  Former New Jersey Highway Authority Chairman Joseph Buckalew says he’s not running for United States Senate, and GOP insiders report that State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos is not likely to enter the race.  State Sen. Christopher Bateman continues to give serious consideration to a U.S. Senate bid, though some party leaders seem concerned about a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco and his law firm, where Bateman is a partner.  Several Republican leaders are pushing U.S. Marshal James Plousis to run, but there is no evidence that the former Cape May County Sheriff is interested.

Republican insiders were unclear last night just how serious Joseph Buckalew is about entering the race for United States Senator, but it does appear that the GOP doesn’t seem ready to heed the request of Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore to stop endorsing candidates: the Bergen County GOP convention went on as planned last night, giving Joseph Pennacchio a landslide victory in his bid to run on the organization line against Murray Sabrin.

Republican Joe Buckalew is a possible U.S. Senate candidateFormer New Jersey Highway Authority Chairman Joseph Buckalew, a longtime business associate of South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, is giving serious consideration to a bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, according to a statement made by Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore on a conference call of party leaders this afternoon. Buckalew serves on the Board of Directors of Commerce Bank and as Vice Chairman of Commerce Bank Insurance Services – where Norcross was Chairman.