Cory Booker gets his way

[DonViejo]

It looks like he just bullied an old man into retirement -- but it didn't have to be this messy

BY STEVE KORNACKI

Cory Booker has gotten his way, but there was never much doubt he would. The Newark mayor and national political celebrity made it known two months ago that he wanted Frank Lautenberg’s Senate seat in 2014, and on Thursday the 89-year-old solon said publicly that he won’t seek a sixth term next year.

And that should clear the way for Booker. Sure, there’ll be a few other New Jersey Democrats who test the waters in the days and weeks ahead, but the smart money says that they – like Lautenberg – will eventually swallow their pride and step out of Booker’s way. And if they don’t, he’ll be heavily favored to beat them in the primary. Republicans will come up with a candidate too, but the Garden State GOP’s bench is thin and the state hasn’t sent a Republican to the Senate since (the very liberal) Clifford Case in 1972. Booker, with his broad popularity and limitless treasury, figures to be a reliable caretaker of that Democratic winning streak.

But while New Jersey’s ’14 Senate race now feels like it will be a coronation for Booker, one that will mark his official transformation from municipal leader to D.C. player, the way he handled the past two months does raise questions about how he’ll hold up under the national spotlight.

Basically, he took what could and should have been a relatively smooth transition and made a very public mess of it. If you asked those who know Lautenberg, it was clear for some time that he wasn’t going to seek another term in ’14. He’d be 90 years old, he’d faced cancer in 2010 and a stubborn illness in recent months, and he’d essentially shut down his fundraising operation. He also knew that Booker was looking to move up, was not going to run for governor against Chris Christie in 2013, and would be well-positioned to beat (and humiliate) him in a ’14 primary if it ever came to it; Lautenberg knew all of this without Booker ever opening his mouth and saying one word about 2014.

more
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/15/cory_booker_gets_his_way/

[n2doc]

1. Another party-picked corporatist

Hurray, hurray! The Party Elite must be thrilled.

[HiPointDem]

10. an education deformer whose start in politics is due to the backing of a right-wing foundation.

such types are the stars of the democratic party these days.

[graham4anything]

2. the early bird catches the worm. My vote is for Cory.

this article has it backwards. It is bull.
the party hack is frank Pallone, whom because of this and menendez I will NEVER vote for.
Pallone is the big bosses candidate. Thanks but no thanks.

The party did NOT want Cory running for this.
Lautenberg wanted it handed to Pallone.

and the early bird catches the worm

and Lautenberg was not going to run. He made NO effort fundraising.
Politics is dirty game and Lautenberg never was not part of the game.

Everybody has an angle, and Pallone made his clear. Boo hoo to him.

My vote in the primary is FOR CORY.
(if Pallone is the nominee, of course in Nov. I would vote for him. But he won't be.
And my heart is really NOT breaking for this party boss candidate.

imho

[tabbycat31]

5. Pallone is actually much more progressive than Booker is

[graham4anything]

6. matters little. He is the party bosses want in the election. And NJ is famous for them.

Lautenberg was making it obvious he was not running anyhow.
But he wanted Pallone not Cory.

Pallone should run for governor(though he would lose).

[Ter]

8. Booker is presidential and has charisma

I think he's the next Democratic President.

[HiPointDem]

11. sure, if you like education deformers whose entry into politics was backed by a right-wing

foundation.

'the next democratic president' = a sad day for the party

[forestpath]

3. Cory Booker = Bain Capital's biggest fan.

[Pisces]

4. Lautenberg could have said he was ready to step down. This in no way makes Booker look bad. Don't

know why Dems love to eat their own. Booker is the best shot we have and he is a good politician. So sick of how
dems can't wait to tear our best down.

[WI_DEM]

7. At 90 I'm not surprised that Lautenberg is retiring.

[SpartanDem]

9. Why do people think Booker is a shoe in?

Remember when he threw the President under the bus on Meet the Press? You think that's going to sit well with Democratic primary voters? That's a campaign ad that writes itself.