There isn't a bigger loser on the planet right now than Frank Lautenberg. I'm sure Mondale spent the entire Election Tuesday night calling his campaign managers to tell them not to order any recount under any circumstances. In fact, he probably waited until the results from other states were in, then had several thousand of his supporters go out and vote for Coleman.
The problem is that the governor of NJ is a dem (IIRC). Lautenberg can step down in six months for "health" reasons and another dem will be put in. Mondale would have had to stick out the full term to keep a Republican governor from replacing him with a Republican.
While I'm not dead certain that I'd go THAT far, I HAVE written several times in this forum the day after the election that there was doubtless no happier guy in the whole US than Fritz Mondale. He did his duty to his party and can now continue with his MUCH more lucrative gig in MN - AND go home every night and be with his family in leisurely semi-retirement. If he'd WON, his life would have been royally screwed.
And Lautenfraud is, as well, screwed. He jumped out of the woodwork straight into the MINORITY. And not just ANY minority, but one that is likely to see any number of things come to pass that he;ll be virtually powerless to stop. Plus, he'll be away from home, it'll wind up costing him money to serve, even if he does quit in 6 months, and when he DOES quit, the newby Dem senator the NJ governor appoints will be #100 on the seniority list.
Justice for the NJ Democrats is occuring with remarkable swiftness.
Michael;