G.O.P. Stalwarts Line Up Behind a New Jersey Name (Tom Kean, Jr)

[brooklynite]

TRENTON, Feb. 23 — Although Election Day is still nine months away, some of the top figures in the national Republican Party are already stepping forward to help state Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr. in his effort to change the "state" in his job title to "United States."

In December, Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, the chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, flew to New Jersey to signal her support for his candidacy for the United States Senate. Now, the Kean campaign is eagerly awaiting the arrival of at least half a dozen big-name Republicans over the next month to headline fund-raisers, at a time when many campaigns are still gearing up.

...snip...

He faces United States Senator Robert Menendez, a former House Democratic leader from Hudson County who was appointed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine to fill the final year of his Senate term.

While Mr. Kean's strongest asset is his name (he is the son of a popular former governor), Mr. Menendez has a significant financial advantage, with $4.2 million in the bank at the end of 2005, nearly five times what Mr Kean had.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/25/nyregion/25kean.html

[salin]

1. Wonder what effect his father's harsh criticism of bushco per the ports

will have - the WH political operation is known for playing hardball against those who visibly act against their (WH) interests... frmr Gov. Kean had some very strong words about the deal that were akin to "Are they (WH) frickin' crazy?"