Below is a STAR LEDGER EDITORIAL FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Star Ledger editorial   
Andrews for U.S. Senate
Sunday, May 25, 2008

It's a safe bet the candidate who wins the Democratic nomination for U.S.
senator in the June 3 primary will win the general election next fall. It's
been 36 years since a Republican won a U.S. Senate race in this state, and
in some of those years, the GOP had solid candidates who ran competitive
races. That's not the case this year.

That means the Democratic primary will determine who joins Robert Menendez,
a Democrat, in the Senate. We believe Rep. Rob Andrews has made the case for
replacing incumbent Frank Lautenberg, who is seeking a fifth term.

During his 24 years in the Senate, Lautenberg has been a consistent fighter
for New Jersey, ensuring the state got federal funds for mass transit and
road projects, beach replenish ment and the port. He strove to expand
eligibility for a federal children's insurance program.

Lautenberg is 84. He's had four terms in the Senate and will be 90 by the
time the next term ends. While age alone is not a sufficient reason to back
Andrews, who is 50, neither is longevity in Washington a suffi cient reason
to retain Lauten berg.

Eliminating the age factor, Andrews still is the better choice. He has a
comprehensive vision of where the country should be going and can articulate
detailed plans for getting there. On any issue -- from health care, to
withdrawing from Iraq, to meeting transportation needs, to dealing with
soaring gas prices -- Andrews has well-thought-out proposals.

In an appearance before The Star-Ledger editorial board, Andrews, who has
represented South Jersey's 1st Congressional District for 18 years, outlined
his proposals for health care. They include specifics on fully funding
programs for children, requiring large employers to provide employees
coverage or pay into a fund for coverage and subsidizing small businesses
that insure workers. He would work to make insurance more affordable by
expanding competition, allowing policy holders to shop around -- even in
other states -- for the best prices, an idea offered by other candidates. He
would require Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for the lowest
prices possible.

He would reverse the Bush tax cuts for the rich, which he says would produce
$1.5 trillion over 10 years, and use that money to reduce the deficit and
help underwrite the health insurance program.

Lautenberg, in an interview with the editorial board, was much less
convincing. It wasn't his positions on the issues that were of concern but
the lack of detail or depth in his discussion of those issues. He said
government has a role in guaranteeing opportunities for health coverage for
all but confined himself to buzz words without much explanation. He failed
to get beyond bromides about how health care should be affordable and how
there ought to be some sort of means test to determine eligibility.

Realistically, there is not much difference in the politics of the two men
despite Lauten berg's efforts to paint Andrews as a Bush enabler. Both have
championed liberal Democratic causes -- abortion rights, embryonic stem cell
research, gun control and the environment, to name a few.

It is on Iraq that Lautenberg contends he and Andrews are far apart. The
facts don't support the claim. On Oct. 10, 2002, Andrews voted in favor of
authorizing Bush to use military force against Iraq unless it disarmed. Two
days later, Lau tenberg, who wasn't in the Senate at the time, said, "In
terms of the action, I fully support it." Then in January 2003, when
Lautenberg had returned to the Senate, he said, "I am with the president
more than halfway."

Neither man knew then that the so-called weapons of mass destruction would
never be found. Both now support withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Both get high ratings from groups usually associated with Democratic causes.
Andrews, however, has tempered his adherence to the party with a recognition
of the important role that compromise can play in achieving results. A step
back from the polarization that grips Washington would be welcome.

The third Democratic candi date, Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, 61, has
made some news beyond Morris County on immigration issues, but is in over
his head in this race.

For Republicans, the choices on the primary ballot are fairly dismal. The
New Jersey GOP is so bankrupt that party bosses fumbled through several
choices before settling on Dick Zimmer, a lawyer-lobbyist in Washington and
a former state legislator and U.S. representative. He's sufficiently
conservative on fiscal matters and enough of a moderate on oth ers to be at
least acceptable to most GOP voters.

His opponents -- state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, a dentist, and Murray Sabrin,
a professor of finance, who lost a Libertarian bid for governor in 1997 and
the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate nomination in 2000 -- have little to
offer on the national stage.

Of the three, Zimmer is the most credible candidate and the Republicans'
best bet, al though he wouldn't be our choice over either Andrews or
Lautenberg.


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