Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on Thursday took yet another swipe at potential primary opponent Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker, according to Politico.
Speaking at a dinner in Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Lautenberg said he was “surprised but not disappointed” that Booker was absent. According to Politico, the dinner is an annual event put on by the state’s Chamber of Commerce “that brings the who’s who of the Garden State’s political and business leaders to the nation’s capital.”
“I thought traveling out of the city was one of his favorite activities; perhaps we’re too close to Newark,” Lautenberg said, a thinly veiled reference to a oft-invoked criticism that Booker doesn’t spend enough time in the city he’s led since 2006.
There has been palpable tension between the two ever since Booker said in December that he would explore a run for Lautenberg’s seat. The five-term incumbent Lautenberg, who turned 89 last week, has yet to finalize his future plans — leaving open the possibility of a high-profile Democratic primary in 2014. Polls have thus far indicated that New Jersey Democrats overwhelmingly prefer Booker to be the party’s nominee next year.
