Mitch McConnell

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Republican Dick Zimmer within seven points of the four-term incumbent, Democrat Frank Lautenberg (48%-41%), but it seems that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has already written off the former three-term Congressman. In an interview with Dow Jones Newswire, Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the NRSC, said that Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu is their priority and “admitted the party had no other hopes of unseating an incumbent Democrat."

Recent polls on the U.S. Senate race confirm what New Jersey political observers already knew: Dick Zimmer is in a tough situation.

If Zimmer, the Republican nominee, is to have any hope of defeating Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg in November, he'll need to capitalize on each and every gaffe Lautenberg makes on the campaign trail. But that will be difficult, since Lautenberg has laid low, which experts say is meant to not risk upsetting the state's natural Democratic inclinations. 

The status quo won't likely work for Zimmer. Although he's running against an 84-year-old incumbent lawmaker with lukewarm approval ratings, Zimmer still trails by margins from the high single digits to low double digits in most polls. One poll from last month, however, showed the two in a statistical dead heat. A Gannett/Monmouth University survey released today showed Zimmer 11 points behind Lautenberg with registered voters and eight points behind him with likely voters. Zimmer has little money -- only $411,000 in the bank to Lautenberg's nearly $1.3 million. On top of that, the state's Democratic base is excited over Barack Obama's presidential candidacy. 

Tom Kean Jr. is paying back an out-of-state political ally.

About 25 friends and colleagues congregated at the state Senate minority leader’s Westfield home to meet and donate to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

It was, according to Kean, the second fundraiser he’s held for McConnell this election cycle, and a way of showing appreciation for one of his major out-of-state backer in his 2006 run against Bob Menendez.

In December, 2005, McConnell’s PAC, Bluegrass Committee, gave $10,000 to Kean’s Senate campaign, and three months later McConnell – then the majority whip -- headlined a New Jersey fundraiser for Kean.

Congratulations to Kristen Materek, the winner of the Jersey Joe Pennacchio Steak Dinner Challenge. When Joe Pennacchio entered the race for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination two weeks ago, PolitickerNJ.com reporter Matt Friedman asked him what he thought about Anne Evans Estabrook receiving campaign contributions from Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “I’m a Jersey Joe. I’m an average Joe. Ask the average person who Ensign and McConnell are. If you get one person out of a thousand who knows who they are who’s not an insider, I’ll buy you a steak dinner,” said Pennacchio. PolitickerNJ.com asked readers to ask non-insiders to identify Ensign and McConnell. And Pennacchio agreed to buy the winner a steak dinner.

Win a steak dinner from Jersey Joe PennacchioHow would you like to have Jersey Joe Pennacchio buy you a steak dinner?

When the Morris County State Senator entered the race for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination last week, PolitickerNJ.com reporter Matt Friedman asked him what he thought about Anne Evans Estabrook receiving campaign contributions from Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“I’m a Jersey Joe. I’m an average Joe. Ask the average person who Ensign and McConnell are. If you get one person out of a thousand who knows who they are who’s not an insider, I’ll buy you a steak dinner,” said Pennacchio.

That’s a fair challenge. Sometime over the next week, ask people you know -- non-insiders – to tell you who Ensign and McConnell are. If you can get one out of the first 1,000 people you ask to get it right, e-mail us your name. We’ll pass your name on to Sen. Pennacchio, with the hope that he’ll keep his word and buy you a steak dinner. And since this is basically an honest state, we’ll take your word for it.

Less than an hour before state Sen. Joe Pennacchio is to formally announed his run for U.S. Senate, one of his likely primary opponents has trumpeted the support of two powerful out-of-state Republican Senators.

According to a press release from Anne Evans Estabrook’s campaign, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-NV) contributed $5,000 and $10,000 to her campaign, respectively.