Lautenberg, Zimmer in statistical dead heat

According to the PolitickerNJ, incumbent U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg is in a statistical dead heat with former Rep. Dick Zimmer. I think the GOP did well for itself selecting Mr. Zimmer as a candidate. Meanwhile, I am sure that Mr. Lautenberg, a great senator for this state for many years, is going to be on the Campaign Trail and making a case for why he should go back to Washington D.C.

My opinion: Both these guys are very distinguished lawmakers. It's going to be a good race. The Politicker has the story. Click on the headline and go there.

Good Primary Day recap by PolitickerNJ

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, was a dominating figure during this Primary. Meanwhile GOP candidate Dick Zimmer overcame a well-organized opponent in "Jersey Joe" Pennachio. Click on the headline to go to a good election recap at the PolitickerNJ.

Best two choices running for U.S. Senate

The best two choices to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate have, in my opinion, been nominated to run for office. Incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a great public servant and accomplished businessman, is contending for office against former Rep. Dick Zimmer, the creator of Megan's Law.

I do not have an opinion yet about who should win, and it is soon for that. But I do think New Jersey has a couple good guys challenging to represent it. Click on the headline to go to the APP story about it.

APP: Lautenberg, Andrews clash in campaign

Gannett has done a story about the Democratic Primary. Just my opinion...Lautenberg by a lot. I think a General Election between Republican former Rep. Dick Zimmer and Sen. Lautenberg is going to be interesting. The Primary...not so much.

Click on the headline to go to the story at the APP.

Lautenberg, Zimmer would make for best race

There are very few people in newspapers that I respect more than the APP's Randy Bergmann. He is one of the brightest people in the news industry today, and he has an incredible impact on Monmouth County because he knows what he is talking about and applies common sense to issues.

Yet, I think he is selling Dick Zimmer short. Mr. Zimmer possesses real credentials as a state legislator and represented this state in the U.S. Congress in a dignified and productive way. Frankly, my impression of Dick Zimmer is that he is not an insider. Far from it, my take on it is that Mr. Zimmer is a principled individual who is not part of a "machine."

I thnk Mr. Zimmer is dedicated to his family, and works very hard at whatever is before him. He is quiet, unassuming and genuine -- which is not what I can say about most politicians.

In politics, there are candidates that gravitate toward government and others that gravitate toward politics. Since it is a political process that candidates have to move through before they have the opportunity to serve in government, it is usually candidates that are politically-minded who end up serving the public. This is not a plus for the taxpayer, in my opinion.

I believe Mr. Zimmer is a good person, who is genuinely concerned about the interests of the public.

I do not know if I would vote for Mr. Zimmer over Sen. Lautenberg. I do know that Dick Zimmer makes me think about that question twice. I am very interested about what candidate Dick Zimmer would say about the issues. While I do believe that Sen. Lautenberg has served well and been on the right side of most issues, I think the American process of government is founded on the idea of an adversarial process: The best of both parties contending for one job.

I do believe that Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Dick Zimmer competing for the U.S. Senate would represent their parties best for this election cycle.

Click on the headline to go to Randy Bergmann's blog.

Zimmer throwing hat into ring for Senate race?

According to the Politicker, former Rep. Dick Zimmer may be in the U.S. Senate race for the Republican Party. I have interviewed Mr. Zimmer a few times, and as a congressman there are not many people who have represented this state with the class and good sense he has shown through the years.

Mr. Zimmer is a dedicated campaigner, a reasonable person and a very intelligent man, who was a guiding force in creating Megan's Law (after the tragic death of Megan Kanka). Certainly, he is the best name the GOP has come up with so far to contend against veteran U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg in November. If Mr. Zimmer is in the race, it may well be one to watch.

Click on the headline and go to the story on the Politicker.