Donald Cresitello

Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello won about 19,213 votes (6%) in his bid for the 2008 Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.  That’s nearly five times the number of votes (4,295) he received when he ran against Frank Lautenberg in the 1982 Democratic Senate primary.  Cresitello was the Mayor then, but only received 1% of the vote in a field of ten candidates. 

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Incumbent Frank Lautenberg has won renomination for a fifth term in the United States Senate. He leads Rep. Rob Andrews by a 61%-34% margin. Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello is running a weak third with 5% of the vote. Lautenberg won huge margins in Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Passaic counties, carried Middlesex and Union comfortably, and held his own in several South Jersey counties.

In the GOP primary, former Rep. Dick Zimmer leads State Sen. Joe Pennacchio by a 46-40% margin. Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin has 14% of the vote.

Five of the six candidates for United States Senator in today’s primary election have run statewide before: Frank Lautenberg for the Senate in 1982, 1988, 1994, and 2002; Rob Andrews for Governor in the 1997 primary; Donald Cresitello in the 1982 U.S. Senate primary; Dick Zimmer for the Senate in 1996; and Murray Sabrin for Governor in 1997 (as the Libertarian candidate) and for GOP U.S. Senate nomination in 2000.

Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello acknowledges he's basically doomed to lose his long shot Democratic Senate primary race against Rep. Rob Andrews and incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

But the race might be a win for his political reputation.

Cresitello was already known to many New Jerseyans before he entered the race, and not because he unsuccessfully challenged Lautenberg in the Senate primary way back in 1982.  Rather, it was his status as the state's most outspoken critic of its immigration policies and for his controversial attempt to deputize local police to enforce federal immigration laws.

Cresitello's fight against illegal immigration, and a rally he hosted in Morristown that saw one violent outburst, earned him the reputation of a blowhard among the state's political establishment, both Democrats and Republicans.  His stance even put him at odds with U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who's seen as the Republicans' likely choice for Governor next year.

Can’t wait until tomorrow night to see who wins the major U.S. Senate and Congressional primary contests?

Below are some predictions from pollsters, political science professors and observers who track Garden State politics.

The observers were unanimous in their predictions for the Democratic Senate primary, foreseeing a relatively easy victory for incumbent Frank Lautenberg. On the Republican end, the outlook was not so clear cut, with observers split between state Sen. Joe Pennacchio and former Rep. Dick Zimmer. Ramapo College Finance Professor Murray Sabrin will have the support of presidential candidate Ron Paul’s fans, and could take some conservative voters away from Pennacchio.

In the heated Republican primary in the 7th congressional district, state Sen. Leonard Lance is the clear favorite. The 3rd district congressional primary, however, is a toss-up. In what has been perhaps the nastiest race of the election cycle, it was tough decide who had the edge between Medford Mayor Chris Myers and Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly.

These races will likely be determined by a very small number of voters. Even the most optimistic of outlooks puts voter turnout at approximately 30%, and most say they expect significantly less than that.

The Democratic U.S. Senate candidates sparred tonight on NJN, where Sen. Frank Lautenberg hit Rep. Rob Andrews on a broken promise, Rep. Rob Andrews hit Lautenberg for hypocrisy regarding his attacks on opponent Millicent Fenwick's age in 1982, and Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello just wanted to move on.

It was the final debate between the candidates before Tuesday's primary. Earlier today, ABC's Philadelphia affiliate aired a debate between Andrews and Cresitello, without Lautenberg, who turned it down.

After Lautenberg bemoaned Andrews's joint pledge with the rest of the state's Congressional delegation not to run a primary against Lautenberg, Cresitello said he was tired of hearing the story.

Star-Ledger: Lautenberg, Andrews clash over toll plan during televised debate

The Record: Lautenberg takes on Democratic Senate rivals in debate

Press of Atlantic City: US Senate hopefuls, Democrats hold first, only TV debate

Gloucester County Times: More accusations traded in 2nd Dem Senate debate

Courier-Post (Gannett): Candidates for NJ's Senate seat air platforms in debates

Philadelphia Inquirer: Lautenberg, Andrews clash on age and record

Both sides spun hard after tonight’s Democratic Senate Primary debate on 101.5 FM, each trying to depict the other as inconsistent and deceptive.

But while experts - including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) himself in the midst of the radio scrap - agree that U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) is a formidable debater and was tonight, at no time during the hour and a half long forum just days prior to the June 3 primary did the senator deep-six himself.

"I thought Andrews acquitted himself very well and if this was an open seat he’d be odds on favorite," said Prof. Patrick Murray of Monmouth University. "Lautenberg acted annoyed that anyone was challenging him. While Andrews focused on detail, Lautenberg wanted to avoid answering questions directly."

Prof. Brigid Harrison of Montclair State University read it the same way.

With Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello complaining about two lawmakers who have had 22 Lautenberg(Lautenberg) and 18 (Andrews) years respectively and little to show in both cases, 101.5 moderator Eric Scott broaches the age issue.

The moderator asks U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews about his campaign ad dredging up the1982 war between U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and the late U.S. Rep. Millicent Fenwick. Lautenberg questioned Fenwick’s advanced age then and now Andrews is taking the same tack and Scott wants to know if Andrews believes Lautenberg is too old to serve.

The congressman twists the issue away from age.

"He’s not effective in the Untied State Senate," he says.

Lautenberg jumps all over him.

Andrews"He doesn’t recognize effectiveness when he see it," he says. "He hasn’t had any in the United States Congress."

Lautenberg proceeds to criticize Andrews for missing work to hit the campaign trail, suggesting that "maybe he’s running for the Guinness Book of Records for handshaking."

"You’ve been there 18 years and you have nothing to show for it," he adds. "It’s quite incredible."

But given the chance moments later, Andrews cites 15 legislative successes he’s had in this Congress alone. He includes in his answer his successful passage of a bill protecting soldiers against terrorist attacks on military bases, and another which closes an Enron loophole.

The candidates get a chance to discuss wages and wealth, and when Morristown Mayor Donald CresitelloEric Scott asks U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg what the minimum wage should be, the senator responds, "One can’t place a dollar figure on it."

Pressed by Scott, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews says the minimum wage should be between $15 - $16 an hour, and Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello marks it at $15-$20.

The congressman tries to distinguish himself from Lautenberg on taxes. He says he would repeal taxes for people making over $350,000 annually.

"The senator said he would ‘examine’ tax cuts," Andrews notes.