“We’re not discussing what his motivation was,” Lautenberg said in an interview. “He came in after making a promise in front of a dozen other people that he was going to be with us. So it’s certainly disappointing.”
Asked how it would affect their relationship, Lautenberg said, “It’s not going to cement it.”
Andrews said he jumped into the race because of New Jersey voters who were concerned that Lautenberg was not running a “vigorous” campaign. He says that comment is not a suggestion that Lautenberg is too old for the Senate.
“I got into the race because people all over the state asked me to,” he said in an interview, and criticized Lautenberg for not doing enough on healthcare, detailing a plan to pull back from Iraq or protecting workers from free trade agreements.
But overall, he said, the two lawmakers are “mainstream Democrats,” seeking to downplay differences on other issues. It is historically difficult to beat an incumbent in a primary, especially when the challenger is considered more to the center of the political spectrum. Rep. Ed Case (Hawaii) lost his 2006 primary challenge to Sen. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii), who had a more liberal voting record.
Lautenberg has long been friends with Andrews, who helped him in debate preparations in 2002, playing the role of Republican Doug Forrester.
Andrews said he has no “ill will” towards Lautenberg.
“I think that democracy is healthy where people have a fair and honest competition,” he said.
|
