Christie holds key to future of NJ seat

Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-N.J.) death has cast a cloud of
uncertainty over the future of his seat, leaving Gov. Chris Christie (R) with
a difficult choice over when — or if — he’ll set the date for a special
election.

{mosads}Competing state statutes have complicated the choices confronting Christie, who is facing his own reelection this year and a potential
presidential bid in 2016.

One statute suggests the Republican governor can appoint a Senate
successor to serve until next year’s general election, thereby avoiding a
special election altogether.

Another more recent statute indicates a special election
should occur on the same day as the upcoming November gubernatorial election,
or a separate day this year.

The law also suggests Christie should appoint an interim
successor to Lautenberg, though he’s not required to do so.

A number of potential appointees have already emerged,
including state Sen. Joe Kyrillos, a close friend of Christie, and state Sen.
Tom Kean Jr.

Other options for an interim appointment include Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and perhaps someone from the private sector, like attorney
Bill Palatucci, who served as a Republican committeeman for New Jersey.

Any Senate appointment holds significant political
implications for Christie, who is popular among both parties in New Jersey and
risks hurting his favorability among Democrats if he appoints a conservative
candidate to the seat.

But such a candidate could boost his fortunes with
Republicans, a necessary step he’ll have to take between now and 2016 if he
does intend to run for president.

Christie could also appoint a centrist, who would be more
competitive in a special election and would further burnish Christie’s
middle-of-the-road credibility.

A third option would be for the governor to appoint a
caretaker who wouldn’t run to keep the seat, someone who would appear above
politics and could work on New Jersey issues without concern for electoral
implications.

Some have even suggested Christie could appoint a Democrat
to the seat — possibly Newark
Mayor Cory Booker, who has a good relationship with Christie. But Republican
sources in the state say that’s unlikely.

The choice of an appointee would likely hinge on when
Christie decides to schedule the special election to replace Lautenberg.

If the election takes place this upcoming November, there’s
a chance a weak Republican candidate could slightly drag down Christie’s
showing in a reelection race he’s expected to easily win over Democrat Barbara
Buono.

Republicans are also concerned that a strong Democratic
candidate, along the lines of Booker, could boost Buono’s performance in the
gubernatorial election.

New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman John Wisniewski
acknowledged the prospect of a Booker boost in a November 2013 special.

“Certainly having someone like Cory Booker on the
ballot this November would augment [Buono’s effort to defeat Christie] because
he would bring out voters that wouldn’t come out otherwise,” Wisniewski
told The Hill.

But Booker is not the clear nominee to run in an upcoming
special.

Lacking a primary, the New Jersey State Committee would
appoint a nominee to run in 2014.

While Booker is likely the strongest candidate, Rep. Frank
Pallone Jr. (D) has also indicated an interest in running for the seat and has
deeper ties within the state party, having served and campaigned for local
candidates for two decades.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D) and state Assembly
Speaker Sheila Oliver (D), as well as Rep. Rush Holt (D), are also said to be
interested in running in the special.

Wisniewski said state Democrats believe the statutes
indicate the special should occur in November of this year.

Sources have said that were Christie to set the date for
the special during next year’s general election, Democrats would consider suing
over the conflicting statutes.

But Republicans may favor that prospect.

Setting the election in November of 2014 would give
Christie’s appointee — should he or she plan to run to keep the seat — an
opportunity to establish a record and get in a solid year of fundraising prior
to what’s expected to be a difficult race for Republicans.

Such a scenario would also give Republicans one more seat in
the Senate during a pivotal legislative session, with Congress expected to
engage in negotiations surrounding immigration reform and the debt ceiling in
the coming months.

Christie has not yet given any indication of his plans to
replace Lautenberg. He praised the deceased senator in an impromptu speech
given at a women’s forum in Trenton, N.J., on Monday.

“I give him praise for a life well-lived. I think we’d
all sign up, today, for a life like Frank Lautenberg had of 89 years of
fighting and fighting hard. And he’s been a great example for the people of
our state, and we will certainly miss him,” he said.