ANDREWS NAMES STATEWIDE CO-CHAIRS FOR U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN
Prominent, Diverse Group of Democratic Figures Signifies Broad Support

CHERRY HILL -- Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rob Andrews today named a group of prominent political and policy figures as co-chairs of his campaign. The group reflects the broad support for Andrews across all regions of New Jersey and all constituencies within the party. And it's a further sign of the momentum building throughout the state for his campaign to win the June 3 primary.

The co-chairs include State Sens. M. Teresa Ruiz of Newark; Barbara Buono of Metuchen; Sandra Cunningham of Jersey City; Bob Smith of Piscataway; Joseph Vitale of Woodbridge; Paul Sarlo of Wood-ridge; and Dana Redd of Camden; Assemblymen John Wisniewski of Sayerville; and L. Harvey Smith of Jersey City; and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez of Camden.

"I am honored that these exceptional Democratic leaders have agreed to play a prominent role in my campaign," Andrews said at a press conference with his campaign chairman, Michael Murphy, and the co-chairs. "They reflect the passion, diversity and vision that has served New Jersey well on a number of our most challenging issues. I look forward to working with them as a United States senator."

The co-chairs cited the need for a change of leadership in Washington, Congressman Andrews' work on a variety of major issues and his vision for the future as reasons for supporting him for the Democratic Senate nomination. They also said he represents the Democratic Party's best chance of defeating the Republican candidate in the fall campaign.

"He not only is the superior candidate on the critical issues facing New Jersey and the nation, he is far and away our party's most electable candidate," sad Sen. Bob Smith. "It is vitally important that the Senate seat remain in Democratic hands for the next six years, and Rob is the kind of dynamic and inspiring candidate our party needs to run against the Republicans in the fall campaign. It is imperative that we nominate the most electable candidate to run in what will be a hard-fought election against the Republicans in November."

Smith cited numerous independent polls showing that Lautenberg was extremely vulnerable to defeat in the general election because of his age. Up to 60 percent of those surveyed said they believed that Lautenberg should not seek reelection. "Frank Lautenberg has held the Senate seat for 24 years and is trying to make it 30," Smith said. "He would be 91 years old at the end of his next term. Unlike a Supreme Court justice, a U.S. Senate seat does not come with lifetime tenure – and the voters know it. We can nominate him and take our chances. Or we can nominate Rob Andrews and start out with a substantial advantage over the Republicans.

Ruiz cited Andrews' work on education issues as one reason for her strong support. "Rob Andrews has been a leading advocate for the principle that every child in America should receive a quality education," Ruiz said. "He recognizes that our children and grandchildren are our future, and that we must go the extra mile to make sure they have access to the kind of education that will enable them to compete in the global economy."

Ruiz said Andrews "believes that our nation's schools and teachers must be given the resources necessary to properly educate our children. As a congressman, he has led the fight for pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs, as well as for significant reforms to No Child Left Behind."

Buono, chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, said New Jersey's severe budget problems can be helped significantly through better representation in Washington. She pointed out that the state ranks at the bottom in terms of receiving federal dollars in proportion to the tax dollars New Jersey sends to Washington. "Rob Andrews is the kind of aggressive, determined senator we need to see to it that we receive our fair share of federal dollars from Washington," Buono said. "It is inconceivable that our state is at the bottom of the list when you consider the critical needs we have."

Vitale and Redd credited Andrews for his persistence in trying to overcome the entrenched interests in Washington to obtain affordable health care for all Americans, especially children and seniors. "It is unacceptable that so many Americans are uninsured, and every one of us needs leaders like Rob Andrews to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care," Redd said. "He's always been an effective and passionate leader for us in Washington, and we need that kind of leader in the U.S. Senate."

Vitale said that he and Andrews shared a passion for fixing the nation's broken health-care system. He praised Andrews for his work on expanding the SCHIPS program for children and fighting to repeal the Bush administration's decision to severely reduce the number of children having access to the program in 17 states, including New Jersey.

He cited Andrews' sponsorship of legislation to lower Medicare prescription drug prices and his work to provide tax credits to offset the cost of health insurance coverage for individuals and small businesses.

Wisniewski said the election of Andrews to the Senate would be a major boost to New Jersey's efforts to obtain federal funds for critically-needed transportation and other infrastructure projects across the state. "Our highways and bridges are in critical need of repairs that cry out for immediate attention," Wisniewski said. "It is a fact that we are not receiving the money we need and deserve from Washington to do the work we need to do. Rob Andrews is committed to fighting for our fair share of federal dollars in the U.S. Senate."

Sarlo cited Andrews' efforts to bring jobs to New Jersey and improve wages and benefits for workers. He said Andrews has been "a consistent advocate for more and better jobs and has opposed free-trade agreements and other measures that send American jobs overseas." He also cited Andrews' leadership on other matters of importance to labor, including guaranteeing the right of workers to organize and

Cunningham, who could not attend the event, said in a prepared statement that Andrews has been "a reliable champion of America's forgotten people. Rob Andrews has always stood up for those who can't stand up for themselves." Cunningham cited Andrews' longstanding commitment to a progressive urban agenda of improved and more affordable housing, education and health care, infrastructure repairs, and tax incentives to spur economic development.

Cruz-Perez and L. Harvey Smith also cited Andrews' efforts on behalf of urban residents. They said New Jersey needs an aggressive advocate in the Senate to help fix a failing economy that is creating hardships for all Americans, especially those living in urban areas.

"The people of our neighborhoods are working harder than ever, yet they are struggling to put food on the table, buy clothes for their children and pay their bus fares," Cruz-Perez said. "Fewer and fewer of our elected officials care about the problems of our inner cities, but Rob Andrews has always been there for us. He listens to our concerns and is an effective advocate in Washington."

"We need Rob Andrews in the United States Senate to continue fighting for our families, and I will do all I can to help him win our party's nomination," said Assemblyman Smith. "Congressman Andrews offers the energy, vision and new leadership required to meet the serious challenges we all face."