NJ-Sen.: Yet another millionaire Republican joins the fray

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

His name is John Crowley, he's from Mercer County, and he's got a very interesting personal story:

http://politickernj.com/john-crowley-story

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Mercer County has defered their county endorsement convention upon receiving word that Crowley had interest in the race.  Meanwhile, Monmouth and Cape May Counties have already endorsed newcomer to the race Andy Unanue.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

All these millionaires are good, but they aren't going to be able to buy the Republican Party of New Jersey a seat in the United States Senate. 

I think the going rate would be around $70 million dollars, if the last time a Senate seat was bought in New Jersey is any indication.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Did his company find a cure for the disease?

No cure, but there are new treatments.

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[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Did his company find a cure for the disease?

No cure, but there are new treatments.

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Thanks.

This guy's much better than the one who was fired from the Mexican food company.  This being New Jersey politics, the latter will probably be nominated.

Fortunately, the NJ GOP primary voting electorate usually doesn't get things wrong too often.  They messed up in 2002 with Forrester over Allen, and in 1978 when they ousted Case.

I'm not even sure you can count 2001's Schundler over Franks as a mistake, because it is not humanly possible to run a worse campaign than the one Bob Franks did.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

PolitickerNJ has some YouTube clips of John Crowley on the Today show.

Today Show, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khFGloa5Znk

Today Show, 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7fiQVr2dEE

That's one hell of a compelling story.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Wow, this is the first time in a long time I will have trouble choosing a candidate in a New Jersey race not out of hatred for all involved.  What a glorious day!

Or not, since Crowley today announced he wouldn't seek the nomination after all.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I hope he does seek office in the future, he sounds like a terrific candidate.

You can't blame him for having other priorities right now, I suppose.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

What a shame.  Oh well, maybe some time soon.  Looks like I will be standing behind a Democrat this time.

This is turning out to be, like, the best day ever.


After speaking to McCain, Crowley now leaning toward Senate bid
PolitickerNJ.com

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is now close to entering the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, after receiving calls from several GOP Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, urging him to run, according to Republican sources.

Other sources said that Crowley spoke with one Republican Senate candidate, Andy Unanue, tonight and told him that he is now likely to run. Unanue has told some GOP leaders that he would withdraw from the race if Crowley gets in.

Crowley spoke at length today with Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who urged him to run and committed resources if he does. At least five other Republican Senators also reportedly lobbied Crowley, whose efforts to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that affects two of his three children has caused Republican leaders to view the political newcomer as a potentially strong Senate candidate.

The Mercer County Republican Executive Committee voted tonight to award the line to Crowley, a Princeton resident, if he runs.  If Crowley does not run, the party voted to support Unanue over the other two candidates, State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio and Ramapo College Professor Murray Sabrin.

[MORE]


GOP thinks Crowley could be a winner
PolitickerNJ.com

Republicans think they can win a United States Senate seat under this scenario: the winner of a divisive Democratic primary between 84-year-old incumbent Frank Lautenberg and ten-term Congressman Rob Andrews, and faces a Republican newcomer with an incredibly compelling life story, John Crowley, the hard-to-attack 40-year-old biotech millionaire John Crowley.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

For Crowley to be successful, he needs to prove that he's up to the job of Senator by proving he's a capable candidate.  A good backstory put Colleen Rowley on the map, but she was a terrible candidate out of the starting gate.  Fortunately for him, there are more instances where a good backstory paid off: State Rep. Nelson Albano and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy immediately come to mind as candidates who easily toppled incumbents.

If Crowley is ready for prime time, this is going to be a tough race for Lautenberg (assuming he wins the primary) to make.  In fact, if Crowley does announce, I'd put the odds of Lautenberg being forced out of the race up at damn near 50/50.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

PoliticsNJ is reporting that Crowley is in, and has already lined up some organization support and the withdrawl of one of the candidates.  (Likely Pennachio, since his staffers are already fleeing the ship.)

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Andy Unanue is now dropping out of the race.  Fun fact: He was in Colorado on a ski vacation during the entire length of his candidacy!

This would presumably mean that all of Unanue's lines in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties will go to Crowley.  Crowley definitely will have the Mercer line, as they voted to award it to him in the event he got into the race (but to Unanue otherwise).