Douglas Forrester, Republican candidate for Senate, said yesterday during a visit to Palmer Square that he is prepared to defeat newly named Democratic candidate Frank Lautenberg if the federal court upholds Wednesday's state court ruling permitting the ballot change.
Forrester reiterated that the recent court decision allowing Democrats to put Lautenberg in Torricelli's place was unfair because the legal deadline for switching candidates had passed.
Though he said that Torricelli's ethics problems are "off the table" now that Torricelli is no longer running, he emphasized that the effort to put a new candidate on the ballot, which he called "another diversion from the Torricelli-Lautenberg machine," was itself an important issue.
"I never thought [Torricelli] would stoop this low," he said.
Earlier today, Senator Bill Frist '74, chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, hand-delivered a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to nullify the state court ruling that the deadline specified in state law could be disregarded.
Republicans also filed a separate federal suit seeking redress for military personnel who have already voted on a ballot that includes Torricelli's name and may not have a chance to vote again on the new ballot.
About 1,400 of these ballots were sent out before this week, leading Republicans to argue that the election was already underway.
Forrester argued that his lead in the polls was the reason Torricelli dropped out. "We are going to be careful not to be ahead in the polls before November 5th," he joked. "I don't want [the Democrats] swapping in another candidate."
Even without a new Democratic candidate, Forrester noted, there are still four minor-party candidates on the ballot alongside his name, allowing voters some choice.
"If we read about Afghanistan, and we had an election where they swapped out a candidate, we'd laugh and say that's what Third World countries are all about," he said.
Nonetheless, Forrester spent much of his time criticizing Lautenberg, an opponent that will only be on the ballot if the courts ulitmately sustain Democrats' efforts to put Lautenberg in Torricelli's place.
"New Jersey is last" among all the states in terms of the amount of federal funding it receives, Forrester said, reiterating a long-time campaign theme.
"Mr. Lautenberg is part of that sad tradition," he said.
Forrester attacked Lautenberg's voting record, especially his opposition of the president's tax cut and the missile defense shield favored by Republicans. He said that theater-based missile defenses, which would not rely on satellites, could help the United States defend Israel during an invasion of Iraq.
Lautenberg "has consistently voted to abolish the death penalty, but there are times the death penalty is appropriate," Forrester said.
Forrester has described himself as pro-choice, but has also said he does not believe government money should be used to support abortions.
Forrester has previously said that he does not support the use of federal funds for abortions, but has not discussed the morning-after pill.
Asked about his view of the University's policy of offering the morning-after pill at McCosh Health Center for students, he dodged the question.
"I am pro-choice," he said. I support the right to choose."
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