August 24, 2008 - 10:35pm
News

New Jersey leans on Obama for Menendez speaking role

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) at Sunday night's dinner at the Inverness Hotel.: Politicker PhotoU.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) at Sunday night's dinner at the Inverness Hotel.: Politicker Photo

 

DENVER - Members of the New Jersey delegation are button-holing hard the Obama campaign to get U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-Union City) a speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention this week.

"You don’t understand how important this guy is," a source told PolitickerNJ.com. "When Menendez won his Senate seat, it was a full banner, front page headline in Florida."

As he entered the Inverness Hotel tonight on his way in to a kickoff dinner hosted by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park) and U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn), Menendez fielded a question about whether or not he would speak at the convention.

"I don’t know," he said.

MAX PIZARRO is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.

Comments

This would be a mistake


Menendez is well respected throughout the country despite what some on this site think. Obama should court him a little better as he will be in Senate leadership for years to come.

08/25/08 9:52 am

Does anyone remember who speaks at these events?


New Jersey picked the wrong horse. The whole state organization was behind Hillary. It was a monumental political miscalculation and now they're paying for it in a reduced role at the convention..

Even if Menendez was offered a speaking spot, what would it be? 5 minutes at 2Pm in the afternoon when no one is there?

What's the point?

Vote Column A - All the way!

08/25/08 2:43 pm