REPORT: Torricelli mulls pulling out of race...

Drudge ^ | 9-30-02 | Drudge

[frmrda]

Nothing follows

[KQQL]

I wonder how the law works .... if he resigns ..but still wins... becasue McGravy promises to appoint a saint..

Maybe this is a ploy by RATS.......to show NJ voters who will replace the Torch if his name wins.

[Torie]

I think the game plan would be to get The Torch to resign NOW, and then Menendez can run as the "incumbent," with a vote for The Torch equalling a vote for Menendez. Of course, The Torch would have to promise to resign again when he "wins," and voters would have to trust that he would. So it is tricky, unless he can "resign" in advanve. The only other alternative is a write in campaign, and that seems hopeless with The Torch's name still on the ballot.

[Arkinsaw]

They are reprehensible, but that is too much of a stretch.

Maybe....maybe. But I wouldn't place a large bet on that.

[NeoCaveman]

It's more than thirty days from Nov. 5.

Today it is. Next week it's not.

[leprechaun9]

I am not so sure that they can name a candidate at this late date. But consider this, what if they mount a WRITE-IN campaign for BILL BRADLEY? Name recognition, experience, etc.

All those (including me)who have been trying to get the campaign to make the Forrester positions on the issues as the primary thrust of the campaign, have been ignored.

So if the primary thrust of the campaign (i.e., TORCH's ethics) is taken away, what does that mean for the campaign?

I do not post these comments for the general public, but do so on an individual mail basis, so that the Democraps don't read it.

Have a good day.

lep9

[hobbes1]

Well, that is the plan. Bet on it. I hope not, but the law is pretty clear, on how a vacancy is filled, and when it is rerun.

[js1138]

They will indeed. Especially Forrester. Toricelli resigns inside of 30 days before the election, McGreevy appoints a Dem, and Forrester is screwed, and the replacement is not up for eletion for two years.

Heads up, you guys. Can anyone confirm or refute this???

This is potentially the most evil political scam I've ever heard of.

[tip of the sword]

But Torch could have a change of mind after the election?

[NeoCaveman]

They will indeed. Especially Forrester. Toricelli resigns inside of 30 days before the election, McGreevy appoints a Dem, and Forrester is screwed, and the replacement is not up for eletion for two years.

This Jersey law may be unconstitutional, a seat that is up this year couldn't just have it's election cancelled, could it?

[Dave S]

Democrat voters are too stupid to pull that off, especially since Torch will still be on the ballot, too.

I hope so. I would feel more comfortable if Torch was running in Florida!

[for-q-clinton]

I think it's time to start one of those Internet spam emails that gives out false info, so that when the real info comes they won't know what to do.

Something like this... In order to ensure a Republican candidate doesn't get elected to office and due to Sen. Toricelli's unelecttability we are urging all voters of New Jersey wishing to place someone other than Forrsster in office to write in "None of the Above" on the ballot write in option.

This will ensure Forrester doesn't win in a Democratic state and will allow the Govenor to appoint the next Senator.

Disclaimer: I in no way am condoning election fraud or SPAM. This post is intended for humor. I am not responsible for any use or abuse of this idea.

[laconic]

Legally, I don't know how this could be done; its effectively increasing the standard six year term of a senator (prescribed in the Constitution) to eight years.

[cactusSharp]

molly, I hear under radar words like FBI informant,
that 7/11 tape and organized crime...heard it haphearted
on pMSNBC and CNN this morn (forgive me Lord).

[dead]

Well, that is the plan. Bet on it. I hope not, but the law is pretty clear, on how a vacancy is filled, and when it is rerun.

Then what is to prevent a party from taking a senate seat forever through that trick?

That is certainly not the plan.

They are giving up in New Jersey to take the boatloads of money it costs to buy advertising and distribute it to candidates with a chance of actually winning.

Forrester wins.

[cicero's_son]

Some are suggesting that if he resigns from the Senate now, McGreevey gets to appoint a successor and the election is forestalled for 2 years. Is this correct?

[js1138]

It's more than thirty days from Nov. 5.

Today it is. Next week it's not.

If the dims try to pull this off, all hell will break loose.

[KQQL]

Latest from NY.com

Torricelli may drop out of Senate race

U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli is strongly considering pulling the plug on his campaign for re-election, and has told Democratic leaders that he would drop out if the party can find a replacement candidate who could hold the seat against Republican Douglas Forrester, several top Democratic sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said today.

Earlier today, the Wall Street Journal reported that Torricelli would drop out of the race, but quickly retracted their story.

Democratic sources also say that Rep. Robert Menendez has turned down a chance to run for the Senate, preferring to remain a candidate for re-election and for a house leadership position. Speculation now centers on Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., a seven-term Democrat from Monmouth County, or former U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, 78, who retired from the Senate two years ago.

Rep. Rob Andrews, a Congressman from South Jersey since 1990 who nearly won the Democratic nod for Governor in 1997, is reportedly also in the mix. But Andrews, who is unopposed for re-election in the heavily Democratic 1st district, has a strained relationship with South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, which could hamper his ability to gain party support, if a vacancy were to occur.

The deadline to replace Torricelli on the ballot was September 16th, but Democratic insiders say they believe there is still time to make a switch. Any change of candidates would have to be approved by a vote of the Democratic State Committee.

Torricelli may end his bid because attacks on his ethics have made it impossible to talk about issues. Democrats, who hold a one-vote majority in the U.S. Senate, are concerned that Torricelli could lose this election and give the GOP control of Senate. A Star-Ledger/Eagleton- Rutgers poll released on Saturday showed Forrester with a 13-point lead, and with Torricelli's negatives soaring.

Last week, the 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals released a memorandum written by federal prosecutors that lent credibility to accusations made by David Chang. And WNBC-TV devoted 38 minutes without commercial interruption to a story on Torricelli's ethics.

If Pallone opts to run for Senate, Democrats will need to replace him on the ballot in the 6th congressional district, where he is the heavy favorite for re-election against Republican Ric Medrow. Leading candidates include State Senators Joseph Vitale of Woodbridge and Robert Smith of Piscataway.

This is the fourth time in three cycles that New Jersey politics has been thrown into turmoil with speculation of a surprise withdrawal of a statewide candidate. Last April, the front runner for the GOP Senate nomination, Essex County Executive James W. Treffinger, withdrew from the race less than a week after FBI agents raided his Newark office. Last year, Acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco ended his gubernatorial campaign after the filing deadline amidst a series of news stories on his ethics. And Gov. Christine Todd Whitman pulled out of the 2000 race for U.S. Senate after changing her mind about running. (09/30/02)

[sinkspur]

The Govrnor can't extend the term of a sitting Senator by two years.

Exactly. Otherwise, this is a scam that could be run endlessly.

There's more to this than what we're reading.

[hobbes1]

If I were Forrester, I would have my ass in Court Right now, getting an Injunction, prohibiting the timing from being dragged out. If he announces, I would ask a court to force the Governor to immediately appoint.