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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brian Sullivan who wrote (48549)	10/1/2002 1:59:23 PM
From: gamesmistress	Respond to of 281500

I would say that the brightest boys are taking themselves out of consideration... New Jersey Supreme Court agrees to take Torricelli successor case directly By JOHN P. McALPIN The Associated Press 10/1/02 1:31 PM TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The state Supreme Court decided Tuesday to hear arguments over whether Democrats can replace Sen. Robert Torricelli on the November ballot, a day after the senator abruptly dropped out of the race. The court issued an order saying it would hear the case directly instead of waiting for a lower court to act. The high court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning. As a result, a hearing set for Tuesday afternoon in Middlesex County Superior Court was canceled. The Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, had asked the state's top court to hear the case directly because of the urgency involved. Arguments now center on state election laws and filing deadlines, but the parties could claim that residents would have their voting rights shortchanged by any decision. That could force the issue to the federal courts, possibly directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, said Republican lawyer Bill Baroni. Torricelli's end to his scandal-tainted re-election campaign forced Democrats to scramble for a candidate. Democratic officials said Monday they had hoped to announce a new candidate within 48 hours. A top choice, Rep. Robert Menendez, took himself out of the running Tuesday morning. Menendez, the fourth-ranking Democrat in House leadership, said he wants to remain in the House and continue to help Democrats fight for a majority. Party officials also were considering such possibilities as former Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Bill Bradley and current House members Frank Pallone and Rob Andrews, according to sources in Washington and New Jersey. Pallone said Tuesday he would consider replacing Torricelli, but added that he had not been asked. Lautenberg said he would "seriously consider serving again if asked." An associate said it was unlikely Bradley would accept. Calls to other potential candidates were not immediately returned. Angelo Genova, a lawyer for state Democrats, said party officials would meet Wednesday night to decide on a replacement. Genova also said a judge has signed a temporary restraining order barring clerks from making or mailing any ballots until the case is decided. Torricelli dropped out after his campaign was severely damaged by allegations he improperly accepted expensive gifts from a campaign contributor. The senator was admonished over the summer by the Senate ethics committee. Under New Jersey law, a party can replace a statewide nominee on the ballot if the person drops out at least 51 days before the election. But only 35 days remained as of Tuesday.