In it until he's out

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:00:01 PM EDT

Some Republicans say that Unanue is upset at the national Republicans' all out effort to push biotech millionaire John Crowley into the race, which went so far as to have John McCain and Rudy Giuliani call him and urge him to run.  What's unclear is whether that anger will make Unanue more or less likely to forego his run.

According to Ortiz, however, Unanue isn't mad.

"The thing about Andy is that he doesn't have a big ego," he said.

Now, he's out, Zimmer is in.

Multiple Republican sources say Andy Unanue is preparing to drop out of the Republican U.S. Senate race and will be replaced by former Congressman Dick Zimmer.

The arrangement is not final, but Unanue has reportedly agreed to drop his candidacy, while Zimmer has agreed to replace him.

Good thing Andy doesn't have a big ego.  

But what is it with the NJGOP?  First they get a millionaire playboy (ok, he wasn't first) who wasn't sure if he lived out of state or with his mom and dad.  Now they have a former Congressman and current lobbyist who isn't sure where he lives:

Zimmer, who served three terms in the 12th district from 1991-1997, lives and works as a lawyer/lobbyist in Washington but maintains a farm in Delaware Township.  He decided to forego reelection in 1996 to run a Senate campaign against Robert Toricelli, losing by 10 points.  

It appears legit - it's a real farm:

Next, she complimented Mr. Zimmer's wife about her starring role in one of his advertisements, in which she appears holding a sheep on the couple's farm in Delaware Township.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for more commercials of candidate's wives holding sheep.  Yep.  Got the Tivo going already.

Good thing sheep aren't evil or anything.