Vanity?
Many years ago a Democratic candidate for Governor appeared at a chamber of Commerce meeting in the most Repubican county in the State. He didn' get many questions after he spoke so I asked him why he did not go talk at a nearby very Democratic county. He did not pause a second. He said if I come here there is always a slight chance I could gain a vote or two. If I go to a democratic county there is always a chance I will lose a vote or two.
The Governor wants to make the case that he had to do somthing when the Torch quit. He will play the fairness question. They know it plays well with voters on the left, center and even slightly to the right. He wants to talk about how hard he tried to get someone besides Lautenberg but could not. But alas no one but Lautenberg would take it. But he is a very good man.
Guess what gang when lautenberg resigns next year no one and I mean no one on the Democratic side will take the job except the Torch. Believe me this governor will go through the best search act you have ever seen. Finally after 349 Democrats turn down the lautenberg seat in the Senate the Governor will get the torch to take on the task of replaceing the retiring Lautenberg in the fall of 2003.