Steve Rothman

New Jersey’s Democratic Congressional delegation issued a scathing statement on Rob Andrew’s Senate candidacy today, saying that he broke his pledge to fully support incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg for reelection and that his conduct has been “both outrageous and unacceptable."

Six of the state’s seven Democratic Congressmen -- Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman, Rush Holt, Albio Sires and Donald Payne -- co-signed the statement, in which they called on their Democratic colleague to drop his candidacy.

"It is now clear that Congressman Rob Andrews has failed to gain thenecessary support to realistically compete in this race, and therefore, we urge Congressman Andrews to end his campaign,” they said.

The congressmen, four of whom are interested in succeeding Lautenberg some day, also argued that Andrews’s primary challenge will weaken the eventual Democratic nominee against his Republican challenger.

TRENTON - As Democrats gear up for a bruising senate primary season, unofficial congressional filing results with the state Division of Elections show no same-party challengers to incumbent Democratic congressmen.      

Only in the 1st District, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews is vacating his seat to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in the primary, are there several hopefuls battling for what Andrews leaves behind.

Six Democratic Congressmen have endorsed Frank Lautenberg for re-election to the U.S. Senate: Getty Images Photo
All six of Rob Andrews' New Jersey House colleagues have endorsed Frank Lautenberg for U.S. enate, and have pledged to run on his line in the June 3 Democratic primary.

"Frank Lautenberg is New Jersey's senator and we stand with him. He delivers for New Jersey in the U.S. Senate and is invaluable to our state. That is why we will run in our home counties on the same line with Senator Lautenberg in the Democratic primary," said Frank Pallone, Donald Payne, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman, Rush Holt and Albio Sires in a joint statement. "Senator Lautenberg's leadership is critical to New Jersey's future. We urge our colleague, Rep. Rob Andrews, not to run for U.S. Senate."

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg addresses the crowd as Gov. Jon Corzine looks on.

TRENTON -- Burnishing his blue collar roots and seniority in Washington, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg today launched his re-election bid at the Trenton Marriott, promising to lead the fight for New Jersey's working families.

"I will build on my work of the last few years, to stand strong against those who attack our values that short change our state and to deliver the results that improve people's lives," said Lautenberg, who was first elected to the Senate in 1982.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman endorsed Dennis Shulman for Congress today.

"After meeting with Dennis and hearing about him from people throughout
Northern New Jersey, I am convinced that he will make an excellent Member of ongress, " said Rothman in a statement.

Shulman, a blind rabbi/psychologist, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Camille Abate to take on Republican Scott Garrett in the fifth congressional district, which borders Rothman’s.

Flat on its back for weeks, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidentialAssemblyman Joseph Cryan campaign finally squirmed out from underneath Sen. Barack Obama tonight as the Democratic candidate from New York beat her rival in the Buckeye State, and was projected to win in Texas.

"It’s a big win," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), chairman of the New Jersey Democratic Party and a key Clinton supporter, who’s watched with dismay and toiled to keep a Clinton coalition together as Obama’s 11 straight victories had some of his allies tiptoeing toward the panic button.

"It’s early, but what this (Ohio) victory means is that the Democratic nomination will be on April 22nd (in Pennsylvania)," said Cryan.

Talking shortly after 11 p.m on Election Night moments before Clinton delivered her victory speech, the state party chairman at that point conceded Obama could still win in Texas, but said it would likely be by such a narrow margin that Clinton’s projected decisive victory in Ohio would balance the deck and enable his candidate to credibly continue her trudge toward the presidency.

Representative Steve Rothman said that today’s south Jersey defections from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama shows that New Jersey Democrats are coalescing around the candidate he thinks will ultimately win the nomination.

 “[Obama’s] campaign is gaining momentum all over America and in New Jersey.

As news stations projected Sen. Hillary Clinton beating Sen. Barack Obama in New Jersey, Obama supporters at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange tried to fight off their disappointment.

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman praised Obama's gutsy performance and reminded the candidate's supporters that few gave the Illinois senator a chance when he began his campaign.

"We had a huge turnout in Jersey City," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who questioned the performance of new voting machines in his city.

Senate President Richard Codey at the Wilshire Grand Hotel todayAfter getting one question cleared up in the affirmative with Sen. Barack Obama, Senate President and former Governor Richard Codey today officially endorsed Obama for president at a press conference in his hometown of West Orange.

"What’s the skinny on the fact that you’re part Irish?" Codey said he asked Obama in a 10 minute conversation with the presidential candidate this morning, six days before the Feb. 5 primary.

"I am," Obama told him.

"Is that on your father’s side?" Codey cracked.

"It’s O’bama," Senator Loretta Weinberg informed the Senate President.

The Obama campaign will hold a rally for their presidential candidate in Bergen County tonight. U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, a Northeast Regional Co-Chair of Obama for America, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, State Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson will headline the event.

The rally is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Hackensack Civic Center, 215 State Street.