John Ensign

Princeton biotech executive John Crowley, who had declined to run for Senate, is reconsidering and will make a decision soon, according to friend and advisor Bill Spadea.

“John is tremendously impressed by the outpouring of support and encouragement that has come from his colleagues, his friends and his family. People of all political beliefs have come forward to offer their good wishes for a potential U.S. Senate run, and they sense what a special opportunity a Crowley candidacy presents for the citizens for New Jersey,” said Spadea. “John and his family are considering this enormous well of support, and will be making a decision shortly.”

As Goya Foods heir Andy Unanue starts his first ever race for elected office, he’ll have an experienced team waiting for him.

Once he gets back from Colorado.

Unanue is on a vacation with his extended family in Vail, and he won’t be returning to New Jersey in time to attend the Republican conventions scheduled for this week in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Middlesex and Salem Counties. He planned the trip a year ago, he said, and even a Senate candidacy isn’t enough to make him shirk the familial responsibility.

Instead, he’ll send surrogates to the conventions, and will address screening committees in conference calls. He plans to return to his homes in New Jersey and New York City early next month.

“I’m not a politician. I don’t really worry about how hard it’s going to be,” Unanue said when asked if not being able to attend the conventions will hurt his chances. “I’m worried about winning the primary and the election. I’m in the process of aligning myself with what I would consider the best and most talented staff.”

Anne Evans EstabrookNational Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign justified his $10,000 contribution to New Jersey Republican U.S. Senate candidate Anne Evans Estabrook to a group of conservative bloggers today during a conference call.

Ensign, who represents Nevada in the Senate, said that the decision was mainly based on practicality – that Estabrook is the most likely of the three current Republican candidates to win an election. While she’s considered a social moderate, Ensign said that her presence in the Senate would support socially conservative causes.

Win a steak dinner from Jersey Joe PennacchioHow would you like to have Jersey Joe Pennacchio buy you a steak dinner?

When the Morris County State Senator entered the race for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination last week, PolitickerNJ.com reporter Matt Friedman asked him what he thought about Anne Evans Estabrook receiving campaign contributions from Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“I’m a Jersey Joe. I’m an average Joe. Ask the average person who Ensign and McConnell are. If you get one person out of a thousand who knows who they are who’s not an insider, I’ll buy you a steak dinner,” said Pennacchio.

That’s a fair challenge. Sometime over the next week, ask people you know -- non-insiders – to tell you who Ensign and McConnell are. If you can get one out of the first 1,000 people you ask to get it right, e-mail us your name. We’ll pass your name on to Sen. Pennacchio, with the hope that he’ll keep his word and buy you a steak dinner. And since this is basically an honest state, we’ll take your word for it.

Less than an hour before state Sen. Joe Pennacchio is to formally announed his run for U.S. Senate, one of his likely primary opponents has trumpeted the support of two powerful out-of-state Republican Senators.

According to a press release from Anne Evans Estabrook’s campaign, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-NV) contributed $5,000 and $10,000 to her campaign, respectively.