[Tailback]

The Dems HAVE TO have a candidate on the ballot so that they are capable of committing voter fraud. It would be too time consuming to conduct a write in fraud campaign. They need to be able to either punch stacks with a nail or use a black marker on optical scan ballots. They know it will still be difficult with Lautenberg but with no candidate on the ballot their goose is cooked.

[Coop]

The Dems HAVE TO have a candidate on the ballot so that they are capable of committing voter fraud.

If the law is applied as written, they've got a candidate on the ballot - Robert Torricelli. The Dems would not have had to risk their party's reputation nationwide to implement the scenario you described.