Umm Christie needs democrats to win like he needs another donut. His approval ratings prove that he doesn't need them.

Again, he doesn't and shouldn't really place a democrat in that seat. It doesn't make sense.

Whitman? Ninja please! She had a chance at a presidential birth but decided to take up the EPA post(bad bad career move) which she didn't really do much...for the environment....and faded into political obscurity.

Now if Christie wants to hurt his chances to become President one day.......the least damaging democrat he could choose would be Richard Codey.....he is a moderate, well loved and i think as a place holder....he would do pretty much what Christie asked.

RIP Senator Lautenberg and "hand salute" for your service in World War II.

Christie needs Democrats to win this election. One popular Republican among NJ Dems was Governor Tom Kean. He's an old-fashioned Northeast Republican and had a good relationship with NJ unions. As a place holder, Governor Kean is not a bat$hit crazy tea bagger nor is he a Senator Boxer, and Kean may satisfy "establishment" Republicans and centrist Democrats.

Another possibility is former governor, Christine Todd Whitman, who is a bit polarizing for some, but reasonably safe as a place holder.

Quote:

++1

The New York Times
Death of Senator Places Christie in Difficult Spot
By DAVID M. HALBFINGER, JEREMY W. PETERS and KATE ZERNIKEJUNE 3, 2013

The death of Frank R. Lautenberg on Monday has left Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey with the kind of opportunity that politicians usually covet: the chance to give away a seat in the United States Senate. But the decision is fraught with pitfalls, none bigger than having to choose between improving his party?s fortunes in Washington and furthering his own political ambitions at home.

Mr. Christie, a Republican, is up for re-election in November and hoping to secure a huge victory margin, which he could then use to accelerate his drive to present himself as a presidential candidate with broad appeal even in a blue state.

But adding a special election for the Senate seat to the ballot could put Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark at the top of the Democratic ticket, potentially energizing more Democrats, who already outnumber Republicans in New Jersey by 700,000 registered voters, to come to the polls.

The implications extend beyond New Jersey to Washington, where both parties are maneuvering for strategic advantage in a Senate where even a single vote can derail legislation. The appointment of a Republican as the interim replacement for Mr. Lautenberg, a Democrat, would create immediate complications for the White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill as they try to push through presidential nominations and an overhaul of immigration laws under the constant threat of Republican filibuster....

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/us/ ... in-difficult-spot.html?hp

It would be crazy if he appointed Booker. Plus, it's no secret that Booker will use the senate seat as a stepping stone to the WH. Why would Christie want to help someone who might end up facing him????

Secondly, it should be a Republican cause Lautenberg was not really a great senator. Meh... at best.

Quote: Not a chance, it's just not the way the game is played. He'd be completely persona non grata in the GOP, even in the state.

Quote: Not much daylight between Cory Booker and whoever Christy appoints.

Quote: Umm, did you forget Christie is a Republican, who will appoint a.....Republican? Per an NPR disussion, the only question is will he play to NJ and appoint a moderate who might leverage incumbency into winning the election, or play to the Tea Baggers he'll need for a POTUS run and appoint a right wing crazy. Good thing Schundler is already on CC's shit list.

Quote: Maybe not just yet. Check the Seventeenth Amendment. "It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventee ... nited_States_Constitution

From the NY Times:

Frank R. Lautenberg, who fought the alcohol and tobacco industries and promoted Amtrak in more than 30 years as a United States senator from New Jersey, died on Monday morning in Manhattan. He was 89.

The cause was complications of viral pneumonia, his office said. In 2010 it announced he had stomach cancer. Though he and his doctors expected a complete recovery, Senator Lautenberg, a five-term Democrat, decided not to seek re-election next year.

His death leaves a vacancy in the Senate that will be filled by Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican. If he appoints a Republican, as expected, his party will hold 46 Senate seats while the Democrats? number will drop to 52. Two independents caucus with the Democrats.

First elected in 1982 at age 58 after a successful business career, Mr. Lautenberg served three terms, retired and instantly regretted the decision. When Senator Robert G. Torricelli made a last-minute decision not to seek re-election in 2002, Mr. Lautenberg ran in his place and won the seat. He was re-elected in 2008. ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/04/nyr ... ew-jersey-senator.html?hp

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg dies at 89

By Matt Friedman/The Star-Ledger
June 03, 2013 at 11:24 AM

TRENTON ? U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, a multimillionaire businessman who went to Washington in 1982 and carved out groundbreaking legislation intended to improve the health and quality of life for the average New Jerseryan, died this morning at 4:02 a.m. of complications from pnenueomia, his office said .

The New Jersey Democrat was 89.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/ ... i.html#incart_maj-story-2