Jim Webb

Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union): Politicker photo 

For the good of the country, a Republican with foreign policy smarts and gravitas would be a wise running mate choice for Sen. Barack Obama, in the view of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union).

In his NJ Voices blog over the weekend, Lesniak said he likes Indiana senior Sen. Richard Lugar, and today he told PolitickerNJ.com that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) would also be good.

"It would show that Obama wants to bring this country together," said Lesniak. "I’m most impressed with Lugar’s ability to articulate a tough and reasoned approach to Iran.

TRENTON  - Asked whom he supports to run on the ticket withSen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) said he believes the natural pick is U.S. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA.).

"It's not a question of neutralizing (Sen. John) McCain's status as a war hero, it's what Webb adds to Obama to balance the ticket," Lesniak told PoltickerNJ.com in the Statehouse as he manuevered out of the committee he chairs on economic growth this afternoon. 

A former Republican and secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, Webb opposed the war in Iraq and made a public show of his disdain for Presdient George W. Bush when he took office as senator. 

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8), right, with U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today in Paterson. 

PATERSON - U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8) didn't hesitate today when asked whom he would like to see presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois choose as his running mate.

"Senator (Jim) Webb, from Virginia," Pascrell told PolitickerNJ.com at a press conference on gas prices in Paterson, which he attended with senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres.

"He'd be a great vice president, and you'd always know where he stands," Pascrell said of the freshman Virginia senator, and Vietnam veteran who once boxed Ollver North to earn a controversial loss when the two were in the Marine Corps.

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