Lautenberg's widow backs Pallone
She said he was her husband's "go-to guy" in the House, and took some jabs at Cory Booker.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The widow of U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg threw her support Monday behind Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone to fill her husband's vacant seat, touting Pallone as a "go-to guy" in the House on environmental issues and a legislator with a lengthy track record of accomplishment.
Bonnie Lautenberg also took a few mild swipes at Pallone's chief Democratic competitor in next month's primary, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, as a candidate whose numerous TV appearances and celebrity connections would not necessarily translate to effective governing.
The event in the parking lot of a home improvement store on Route 17 was Lautenberg's first public appearance with Pallone since she and her family announced they were endorsing him two weeks ago. In that statement, the family referred to the late senator as "a work horse, not a show horse," a veiled reference to Booker, who has been a frequent guest on talk and cable news shows, and has received campaign donations from Hollywood heavy hitters.
"Being great on TV and raising money outside the state doesn't mean you're going to be the most effective in the U.S. Senate," Bonnie Lautenberg said Monday. "You have to look at how they've done in their current jobs. I know that Frank Pallone has done a really good job representing his district in the House and will do a great job in representing the citizens of New Jersey as a U.S. senator."
Pallone, who trails Booker in the polls, said he believes people who vote in the Aug. 13 Senate primary will be more attuned to the issues than they may have been in other elections.
"They're going to be conscious of the issues. They're going to want to know who's most effective," he said. "I don't think they really care about celebrity status or who they see on the talk shows."
Pallone picked the site of the event because it is a former toxic waste site that was cleaned up under the federal Superfund program. Pallone announced at the end of May that he had reintroduced a bill to restore a tax on oil and gas companies that would replenish a federal fund used to clean up toxic waste sites.
"When my husband needed help on environmental issues in the House of Representatives, he always knew what to do," Bonnie Lautenberg said. "He called Frank Pallone. Frank Pallone was the go-to guy who had the experience and know-how to get things done."
Booker's campaign released a TV ad Monday that spoke of his priorities of reducing child poverty, protecting Medicare and Social Security from cuts, achieving equal pay for equal work, and raising the minimum wage.
Asked about Booker's friendly relationship with Gov. Christie, a Republican, Pallone said it "hasn't helped" because Christie hasn't changed his positions on some of those issues, including gay marriage.
But Booker spokesman Kevin Griffis said the mayor "will work with anyone if it means improving the lives of the people of New Jersey. That's his record in Newark, and that's the approach he'll take to Washington."