In Garden State politics, much like the world of fashion, one day you are in, and the next day you are out:

Despite being poised to enter the Republican Senate primary race for the second time in two weeks, Princeton biotech executive John Crowley once again withdrew his name from consideration today.

"John was deeply impressed with the outpouring of support for his potential candidacy for the US Senate. Many people both locally here in New Jersey and nationally had been encouraging him to run over the past week, but given his tremendous level of responsibility to his family, his company and to the US Navy, he’s decided not to enter the US Senate race this year," said Crowley’s friend and advisor, Bill Spadea. "I know there was a lot of legitimate anticipation that John would enter this race we’ve been upfront with the many obligations he has, and his decision had to come down to his family."

There were other considerations as well, like Crowley’s role as CEO of Amicus Therapeutics and whether he would be able to disentangle himself from company affairs soon enough to declare a candidacy.

Seriously, how much did they like Crowley? This much:

Mr. Crowley, who turns 41 on Monday, first said no weeks ago to a possible Senate run. But after fielding calls from Senator John McCain of Arizona and other prominent Republicans in recent days, he reconsidered. And several Republicans who had talked to Mr. Crowley lately said he was setting up the machinery to run, with supporters even contacting the media to arrange interviews....

For Republicans, [] Mr. Crowley had been an especially attractive candidate — even though most conceded that they did not know where Mr. Crowley, a Navy reservist with a law degree from Notre Dame and a business degree from Harvard, stood on key issues, like the war in Iraq, the economy and abortion rights.

With their (second) dream candidate out of the race, the GOP field is left with NYC resident and party animal Andy Unanue (who almost was out but now may stay in), Paulite nutter Murray Sabrin and "nationalist" nutter "Jersey Joe" Pennacchio, perhaps the weirdest dentist in American public life since Dr. Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., who has called for the homeless to be interned on former military bases.

So the next time you're fretting about the developing North/South Jersey civil war on the Democratic side, just remember: compared to what NJ Republicans are facing, we've got it easy.

Race tracker wiki: nj-sen

For a race which would not be ranked among the 10 most competitive in the country, the New Jersey U.S. Senate race has been absolutely fascinating of late.

Firs, the Republicans' initial choice for the race, millionaire Anne Evans Estabrook, dropped out of the race after suffering a transient ischemic attack.

By the end of the month, the Republicans had found a...well, maybe not a suitable replacement, but a replacement, nonetheless, in businessman Andy Unanue.

This was a tremendous victory for hilarity, if not for the Republican Party. Our man Unanue was famed for such exploits as showing up drunk to work, and was ultimately sacked from his family business, Goya Foods (shocking, no?)

Undaunted, Unanue went into the nightclub business, though his baby AER Lounge didn't get the best of reviews:

Just when you thought the Meatpacking District couldn't handle another over-priced club-bar catering to hordes of pretentious Euro-trash, along comes AER.

Ouch.

So as of last week, things were looking pretty dark for Republicans in New Jersey, but they've had a double dose of good news lately. First, there is now a contested primary on the Democratic side, as Congressman Rob Andrews will forge a primary challenge against the 84-year-old Lautenberg:

Andrews’ chief of staff, Bill Caruso, told local media this week that the House member was mulling a challenge to Lautenberg. Upon word that he was considering a run earlier this week, the Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation rallied together to discourage him.

Those six House members also pledged to share a line on the ballot with Lautenberg in their districts. The state’s other senator, Robert Menendez , also a Democrat, is supporting Lautenberg as well.

Andrews, 50, a nine-term congressman, has long held aspirations for higher office. He narrowly lost a 1997 gubernatorial primary to Jim McGreevey and was later passed over for the Senate seat vacated in 2005 by Democrat Jon Corzine , who was elected governor. At that time, Corzine pledged Andrews his support if Lautenberg, 84, were to retire after this term.

Lautenberg would likely have coasted to reelection under normal circumstances, so a primary challenge can really only hurt Democrats. This is particularly true if Andrews makes an issue of Lautenberg's age and fitness to serve another term. Frankly, I suspect that is the only way he could beat Lautenberg, who holds a 35-point advantage in polling over Andrews, according to the DSCC.

The prospect of a centrist such as Andrews supplanting the reliably liberal Lautenberg isn't especially thrilling, but the idea of a contested primary is even less exciting now that the GOP appears to have found a credible candidate, biotech exec John Crowley:

Biotech millionaire John Crowley is now close to entering the race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, after receiving calls from several GOP Senators, including presidential candidate John McCain, urging him to run, according to Republican sources.

Other sources said that Crowley spoke with one Republican Senate candidate, Andy Unanue, tonight and told him that he is now likely to run. Unanue has told some GOP leaders that he would withdraw from the race if Crowley gets in.

Crowley spoke at length today with Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who urged him to run and committed resources if he does. At least five other Republican Senators also reportedly lobbied Crowley, whose efforts to find a cure for a rare genetic disease that affects two of his three children has caused Republican leaders to view the political newcomer as a potentially strong Senate candidate.

I don't know that Crowley will be an exceptional candidate, but he isn't a joke like Unanue, and he's rich (which seems to fit the main criterion the NRSC has for New Jersey this year). And he can only benefit from Andrews' primary challenge. As I said, I think the only way Andrews can close the 35-point gap with Lautenberg is by making an issue of Lautenberg age. If he does so, and Lautenberg survives the primary, Crowley will have his dirty work done for him.

And if Andrews wins the primary, he will have his own problems, as the vast majority of the New Jersey Democratic establishment is supporting Lautenberg.

Lautenberg should be strongly favored to win both the primary and the general election. New Jersey hasn't elected a Republican to the Senate since 1972, and Lautenberg has won four elections in that time (including one over the dream candidate, Pete Dawkins).

Nevertheless, things look a lot better for the GOP than they did a week ago.

Race tracker wiki: NJ-Sen

The more I see of Unanue, the more I think he might be a worthy successor to our dearly dropped out Steve Kirby.

But Unanue's tenure as a top executive at the company his grandparents founded was short-lived. He and his father were ousted by other family members in 2004, and his management skills were sharply questioned.

During a trial on a lawsuit about the firings, a company vice-president testified Unanue came to work drunk at least five times, possibly more. Unanue denied that, but admitted he had come to work hung over and drank a lot at company parties. "Work hard, play hard. That was my motto," Unanue testified.

Makes sense given his nightclub.

Just when you thought the Meatpacking District couldn't handle another over-priced club-bar catering to hordes of pretentious Euro-trash, along comes AER.

Andy Unanue testifed he was never drunk on the job, but when asked if he was "ever hung over in the office," he replied, "Sure. Yes."

He denied it was a problem, and said he and others "drank a lot" at Goya company parties. "We worked hard, we worked long hours, we wanted to celebrate that," he testified.

Joseph Perez, a vice president, testified Andy Unanue was "coming in late, leaving early, to the point I spoke to him and that I was concerned that perhaps he was ill." He rated Andy's leadership skill as "'fair to poor," adding that he could be "'arrogant and cutting."

Unanue said Tuesday he was often out of the office on sales calls -- adding that as a senator, "I'm not going to be sitting in my office, I'm going to be out talking to the people of New Jersey."

Just don't mind him if he reeks of alcohol. Being a senator is hard work, so he'll "celebrate that".

Race tracker wiki: NJ-Sen

Oooh, this is good. Remember GOoPer and Euro-trash club owner Andrew Unanue and his announcement for the New Jersey Senate race?

Turns out he made his announcement in Colorado. And not just anywhere in Colorado, but Vail, the playground of the rich and famous.

Unanue is on a vacation with his extended family in Vail, and he won’t be returning to New Jersey in time to attend the Republican conventions scheduled for this week in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Middlesex and Salem Counties [...]

Instead, he’ll send surrogates to the conventions, and will address screening committees in conference calls. He plans to return to his homes in New Jersey and New York City early next month.

With the untimely departure of South Dakota's Steve Kirby, Unanue gives me hope for that elusive killer 2012 ticket. If Kirby/Olivo is not to be, then perhaps we can get someone stupid enough to declare for Senate in New Jersey from an exclusive ski resort in Colorado. Unanue/Olivo, anyone?

"I’m not a politician. I don’t really worry about how hard it’s going to be," Unanue said ...

It'll be a cinch, Andy. Just like a night out on the town clubbing.

Race tracker wiki: NJ-Sen