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South Jersey Needs to Support Frank Lautenberg

To be sure, it would have been better for South Jersey had Rob Andrews won the Democratic primary over Frank Lautenberg. But that was not to be. It is also hardly worth disputing that Sen. Lautenberg needs to be more responsive to South Jersey needs and be more active in this part of the state. That said, I have little doubt that Lautenberg would be a superior alternative to Dick Zimmer, the N.J. GOP senate candidate, in terms of helping South Jersey. Besides getting earmarks for this part of the state, Lautenberg helped secure federal funding for the Coastal Heritage Trail, which comprises a wide swathe of the southern part of the state, as well as procuring federal funding, with Andrews' help, for a Rowan program.

It troubled me to learn that one of the first post-primary polls showed Zimmer leading Lautenberg in South Jersey, when Lautenberg, rather than the ex-lobbyist Zimmer, would be the better choice for South Jersey concerns, from federal funding for public transportation to environmental preservation to support for homeland security funds for South Jersey. The Democratic primary is over: It is time for Andrews' supporters, and South Jersey in general, to unite behind Lautenberg.

posted by Michael Martin @ 6:22 PM