Booker keeps Senate fallback safe

[left-of-center2012]

Sen. Cory Booker’s attention may be on his White House bid, but if that doesn’t work out, the New Jersey Democrat has a warm Senate seat waiting for him — and not much competition from Republicans.

Booker’s presidential run has exposed some problems that, on their face, should be vulnerabilities for his Senate reelection in 2020. His popularity took a dip statewide after he declared his presidential campaign, as memories of former Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s frequent forays to New Hampshire in 2015 and 2016 remain fresh in voters’ minds. And Newark’s water crisis has resurrected news about corruption that took place at the agency that controlled the city’s water infrastructure while Booker was the city’s mayor.

But the GOP failed to develop a strong bench under Christie, who, by the time he left office in 2017, was the most unpopular New Jersey governor since the advent of public polling. Since Christie won a landslide reelection in 2013, New Jersey Republicans have lost ground in the state Legislature and have been nearly wiped out in the congressional delegation.

Even if Booker is on the ballot for president or vice president, he’s likely to be a Senate candidate as well. New Jersey Democrats changed the law last year to ensure that Booker can appear on the ballot for Senate and president at the same time.

https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2019/09/09/booker-struggling-to-gain-presidential-traction-keeps-senate-fallback-safe-1176442

[George II]

1. I wish he would just withdraw and concentrate on his Senate job and re-election. I like him...

....he's a good Senator, but just doesn't have that presidential quality that some others have.