REPORT: Torricelli mulls pulling out of race...

Drudge ^ | 9-30-02 | Drudge

[frmrda]

Nothing follows

[SunnyUsa]

"In Florida, if this were to happen, there would be thousands of votes for "Mr. Whoever". LOL"

hahaha...make that Mr. CHAD Whoever and they'd still have trouble, even with their own write ins!

[Exit148]

I haven't read the whole thread,yet, so don't know if this has been posted. It is from PoliticsNJ:

" 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.

Adapt to suit, I guess.

[Dave S]

Surely you are aware of how any involvement overturning State Law in an election, especially if ti turns the Majority of the Senate would look, after the 2000 debacle. Scotus might be reluctant to get involved....

Its not a State issue. The office is a FEDERAL OFFICE. The election in which the candidates compete is a FEDERAL ELECTION. The state of New Jersey can not change the term of a constitutionally consituted office.

[hobbes1]

So Lautenburg, Pallone or Menendez can run as a write-in candidate.

You are confusing withdrawing, with RESIGNING the Senate.

The issues are separate. Withdrawing=GREAT, whereas Resigning=Potential disaster.

[B Knotts]

Perhaps Torch went to a 7-11 yesterday and coincidently in walked Terry McCauliflower with 5 waste contractors to buy some milk.

ROFL

You have it figured out!

[TheBigB]

More evidence, I think, that Torch and both the NJ and national Dems have written this one off. There's no plausible way to put anyone else up against Forrester and not have there be outrage across the state from GOPers and many independents.

Torricelli stays in so he can still make speeches and look pretty, but he knows his career is over. Forrester wins handily in November.

That is, until Bob gets visions of "Governor Torricelli" dancing in his head.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Here ya go!

She's a Democrap.

[Coleus]

Sen. Torricelli with the Mafi and the CIA:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/750856/posts

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/9/17/162056.shtml

[Congressman Billybob]

Laconic has it right. The US Constitution sets the six-year terms for Senators. No law of any state can trump the Constitution on this. Nothing, other than a Torricelli win in November, or a Demowrite-in win then, can save this seat from going to Forrester in January.

Billybob

[Torie]

The only thing would be to give traction that a vote for Torch is a vote for someone else. But as I said above, the Torch would have to resign again after he "wins," and folks would have to trust that he does so, unless an anticipatory resignation for the new senate term has binding force somehow.

[IpaqMan]

Besides, there are a number of Democratic senators that would not follow the party on this kind of dirty trick (Zell Miller is one that comes to mind).

[mwl1]

Here's another thought... Torch resigns, Senate becomes 49-49-1 with one vacancy...

With Cheney tie-breaking vote, GOP becomes majority party immediately until McGreevey successor appointed.

McGreevey, if he is smart, will say, wait for the Nov 5 election, no need for an immediate senator.

[laconic]

The WSJ quote was actually taken from the screaming headline on an FR competitor, www.Lucianne.com.

[dead]

wnbc is wrong. Period.

When aren’t they?

[KC_Conspirator]

I guess NBC is reporting that the governor can cancel an election or appoint a candidate if the sitting senator drops out 30 days an election. That makes absolutely no sense to me. How can a governor decide who a candidate if he/she were from a different party. I think there is some sloppy reporting going on here.

[for-q-clinton]

Once again you're right. The US constitution says the states can choose how they want to vote and select people to National office, but the fact remains they can't change the dates upon which those selections must be presented.

Nothing but bad news for the RATS. Maybe they can have their state legislature send who they want (doubt it, but it could be done if in their state laws or if their courts are as corrupt as Floriduh's). It would still be political suicide.

[Dave S]

If he is resigning, there can only be One reason.

Only one that stands out to me is the Dems are forcing him off the ballot so they can have better chance with write-in candidate.

[Southack]

"You still can't extend the term of office."

It will be argued that it isn't the same term being extended because a different person is filling in.

Consider for instance that no one would complain if the Democratic Governor appointed Republican Forrester to fill in. The argument will go "since you wouldn't complain about Forrester being appointed, then that shows that having a different person be appointed doesn't violate the 6 year term of someone else."

[Torie]

It only deals with the balance of the existing term, not for a new term which has a pending election.

[nd76]

WRONG--Daschle still has 50 votes (49 Demos + Jumpin' Jim Jeffords). He is still the majority leader.