Andrews, Lautenberg have taken opposite sides on many policy issues

Rep. Robert Andrews’s surprise entry into the New Jersey Senate Democratic primary sets up a sharp distinction with the man he helped elevate to the upper chamber in 2002, Frank Lautenberg.

Both sides are pointing to their differences in trying to paint one another as out of step with New Jersey voters. But some political insiders think that Andrews might be able to pull off an upset if he focuses more on his style and minimizes those policy distinctions, because they highlight his more conservative bent.

{mosads}Unlike the 84-year-old Lautenberg, Andrews voted for a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, legislation making it harder to declare bankruptcy, a 2003 funding bill for the Iraq war and a 2000 repeal of the estate tax.

Andrews also voted against the Peru free trade agreement and the Bush-backed Healthy Forests initiative, both of which were supported by Lautenberg.

Andrews, 50, voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq in October 2002, but Lautenberg was not serving in the Senate at the time. Lautenberg made public comments supporting the invasion, but his aides say that he opposed the war once he entered the Senate and was briefed on U.S. intelligence.

The two have cast similar votes on a host of other policy issues, including against the Bush-supported bill to authorize warrantless eavesdropping last August, tax breaks for oil companies, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and restrictions on late-term abortions.

They both supported last year’s proposed expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and a deadline for troop withdrawal from Iraq. In 2006, Andrews joined Lautenberg in opposing a repeal of the estate tax, which is assessed on the transfer of property after a person’s death.

Political analysts say the policy differences will almost certainly emerge as the campaign season kicks into full gear ahead of the June 3 primary.

Lautenberg remains the heavy favorite, with support from much of the Democratic establishment and $4.7 million in his campaign war chest after the first quarter of this year.

He also has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“We always protect our incumbents, and we’re doing whatever [Lautenberg] needs us to do,” said Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), chairman of the committee.

By contrast, Andrews angered a slew of New Jersey Democrats and his House colleagues by jumping into the race two weeks ago. He has $2.2 million in his war chest.

Andrews’s Democratic colleagues, including Lautenberg, accuse Andrews of breaking a pledge not to run for the Senate this November.

{mospagebreak}“We’re not discussing what his motivation was,” Lautenberg said in an interview. “He came in after making a promise in front of a dozen other people that he was going to be with us. So it’s certainly disappointing.”

Asked how it would affect their relationship, Lautenberg said, “It’s not going to cement it.”

Andrews said he jumped into the race because of New Jersey voters who were concerned that Lautenberg was not running a “vigorous” campaign. He says that comment is not a suggestion that Lautenberg is too old for the Senate.

{mosads}“I got into the race because people all over the state asked me to,” he said in an interview, and criticized Lautenberg for not doing enough on healthcare, detailing a plan to pull back from Iraq or protecting workers from free trade agreements.

But overall, he said, the two lawmakers are “mainstream Democrats,” seeking to downplay differences on other issues. It is historically difficult to beat an incumbent in a primary, especially when the challenger is considered more to the center of the political spectrum. Rep. Ed Case (Hawaii) lost his 2006 primary challenge to Sen. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), who had a more liberal voting record.

Lautenberg has long been friends with Andrews, who helped him in debate preparations in 2002, playing the role of Republican Doug Forrester.

Andrews said he has no “ill will” towards Lautenberg.

“I think that democracy is healthy where people have a fair and honest competition,” he said.