Rasmussen Reports

Prof. Murray Sabrin, a Ron Paul Republican, has stirred up the GOP primary with attacks on Anne EstabrookWhen Murray Sabrin entered the Republican U.S. Senate primary in January, the conventional wisdom was that, as a member of the Ron Paul wing of the Republican Party, he would draw votes from State Sen. Joe Pennacchio’s conservative base to help the moderate Anne Evans Estabrook shore up her own support for the June primary.

Although it’s still early on in the process, the outcome so far has been the opposite.

Sabrin has turned out to be an attack dog, challenging Estabrook’s Republican credentials and leaving Pennacchio unscathed. That has helped Pennacchio rack up county committee endorsements after winning the hearts of the party’s rank and file at conventions, while some of Estabrook’s exploratory committee members have started wavering in their support.

“I know that in some circles they were probably doing cartwheels and high fives when Murray got into the race, but my focus wasn’t Murray. It’s just doing what I’m doing,” said Pennacchio.

Democrat Frank Lautenberg leads State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio by only eight points, 46%-38%, in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll of New Jersey voters released today.  The four-term incumbent leads businesswoman Anne Evans Estabrook 44%-34%, and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin 46%-31%.

“While the poll results are generally encouraging for Lautenberg, any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable,” said the pollster.