March 26, 2007 - 9:32pm
Van Drew looking at Senate bid vs. Asselta
By EditorAssemblyman Jeff Van Drew is giving serious consideration to a State Senate bid against GOP incumbent Nicholas Asselta, according to several Democratic sources. Two Republican sources say that Van Drew told Asselta this weekend that he is weighing a challenge.  Asselta, 55, ran unopposed for the Senate four years ago following the retirement of Republican veteran James Cafiero. He first went to the Legislature in early 1995 when he won a Special Election for State Assembly after Frank LoBiondo was elected to Congress.  The 54-year-old Van Drew, a Cape May County Democrat, won an Assembly seat in 2001, unseating incumbent Jack Gibson. He had served two non-consecutive terms as a Cape May County Freeholder.
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Would be a strong candidate
Van Drew is a Democrat who could seriously challenge Asselta. He was being recruited, however, by the DCCC to challenge LoBiondo for his NJ-02 house seat, so this would mean the top choice for Democratic challenger for LoBiondo's seat wouldn't be available. LoBiondo is a somewhat popular congressman, but NJ-02 is becoming more Democratic every year.
Stronger Than You Think
Recent polling that has been done shows Van Drew easily beating Asselta. He can deal with LoBiondo next year. A Senator can beat a Congressman just as easily as an Assemblyman. Like him or not he is going to be our next Senator.
Not Good for Labor
The worst thing about this is that one of them would lose. Both are fantastic Labor candidates and both have worked very hard for their districts. I think that Asselta is more " Democrat" than many Democrats. What a great idea if he would switch parties to avoid this battle. After all he might be the last Republican standing in the lower 5 counties after Whelan wins. A Senate contest would be a loss for Labor. The Republican Party in this State has self-destructed. Maybe it is time for Asselta to jump over or maybe it is time for Corzine to give him a big time appointment. In either case he is too good to lose. Van Drew deserves to move up , he might be the hardest working Legislator in the State. The South Jersey powerbrokers, especially Labor, need to make this work because both men are as good as it gets.
SMART MOVE
This is a win-win move for Jeff and the SJ Dems. A Van Drew Senate candidacy will absolutely force Asselta's hand. After years of contemplating a switch, he will finally have to take the plunge or lose his seat. Then Van Drew can focus on LoBo in a presidential election year when the GOP is in tatters and without a national voice. Jeff will have all the funding he could ever want for that race. The nomination of Guliani is the only possible salvation for Lobo against Van Drew. But in all liklihood, the Dem's could kill two birds with one stone on this.
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Peaceful secession and nullification are the only means of returning to a system of government that respects rather than destroys individual liberty.
go for Congress
I'd love to see him go for it, but there is a danger. He has to give up his Assembly seat to run, if he loses...he damages his future. He doesn't have to give anything up to run against Lobiondo, although that's probably the tougher race.
I say stay put and challenge Lobiondo.