S. Fla. pushes for Latin senator

[Freddie Stubbs]

A vacancy for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey is having political reverberations in South Florida.

BY LESLEY CLARK

[e-mail]


A tug-of-war some 1,000 miles from Miami that has pitted Hispanic politicians against Democratic Party chiefs could prove critical to South Florida: The result may be a second Cuban-American U.S. senator.

The election of U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, to the governor's office in New Jersey two weeks ago has created a rare open seat in the U.S. Senate, and Hispanic groups are agitating for the post to go to U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat born to Cuban parents.

The plethora of candidates is daunting: Nearly every Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation has signaled interest, and Corzine -- who will make the selection -- is said to also be looking at elevating a black female state senator.

The stakes are high. The appointee would be forced to defend the seat in November 2006 against an aggressive and well-funded challenge from Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean.

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/13229843.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. S. Fla. pushes for Latin senator (in New Jersey)

Posted on Tue, Nov. 22, 2005

S. Fla. pushes for Latin senator

A vacancy for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey is having political reverberations in South Florida.

BY LESLEY CLARK
[e-mail]

A tug-of-war some 1,000 miles from Miami that has pitted Hispanic politicians against Democratic Party chiefs could prove critical to South Florida: The result may be a second Cuban-American U.S. senator.

The election of U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, to the governor's office in New Jersey two weeks ago has created a rare open seat in the U.S. Senate, and Hispanic groups are agitating for the post to go to U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat born to Cuban parents.

The plethora of candidates is daunting: Nearly every Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation has signaled interest, and Corzine -- who will make the selection -- is said to also be looking at elevating a black female state senator.
The stakes are high. The appointee would be forced to defend the seat in November 2006 against an aggressive and well-funded challenge from Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean.

National Democratic leaders, intent on taking back the Senate, are said to be nudging Corzine to select Richard Codey, the current acting governor who, unlike the congressmen interested in the seat, bested Kean in a recent poll.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/13229843.htm
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[TlalocW]

2. Conservative Cubans have already screwed up South Florida

Let's not let them have any influence over another state.

TlalocW

[karynnj]

3. I resent people from FL trying to influence

who is the Senator from NJ. If Codey will take it he is held in very esteem in NJ. It's hard to describe how many people volunteered that they wished Codey were running - when asked if they preferred Corzine or Forrester.

Holt would be great too as he would likely be the only Senator with a real technical background. This could be a major plus on energy, technology, election reform (where he is a leader in the Senate) or any Science based topic.

[WI_DEM]

4. Menendez has some ethical problems I read

If they can get Cordey--that's who they should go with. He did a good job as Acting Governor and has strong approval ratings and has the best chance to win.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Thanks for the info. on Menendez. N.J. can surely do better.

It would be great seeing Menendez replaced as a Representative, and surely NEVER serving as a Senator.

Hope Cordey makes it.