Corey Booker, Geraldo Rivera Rumored To Have Interest Lautenberg's Senate Seat
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - Next year's US Senate race in New Jersey could prove entertaining if those now talking about succeeding Frank Lautenberg actually do face off against each other. But political observers believe it probably won't happen.
While Cory Booker, the Democratic Mayor of Newark, is dead serious about a run, the only one to publically flirt with a Republican bid, FOX newsman Geraldo Rivera, hasn't even sat down with party leaders yet.
Even Lou Dobbs at least went that far when he considered opposing Robert Menendez a few years back. Patrick Murray, who runs the Monmouth University Polling Institute, believes most people are not taking Geraldo very seriously.
"I think Geraldo is testing the waters for, probably, something else that he wants to do," Murray said. "Certainly, we see that there isn't a groundswell of support from New Jersey voters. In fact, a majority of voters said that they wouldn't even consider voting for him."
And given no New Jersey republican has served in the senate since the 70's, Murray is not surprised at the lack of traditional politicians stepping up so early.
