Report: Cory Booker Leaning Toward Senate Run Instead Of Gubernatorial Bid

Newark Mayor Cory Booker
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Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker is said to be having “serious discussions” about running for U.S. Senate in 2014 instead of challenging New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) in next year’s gubernatorial race, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. 

The Journal quoted three people close to Booker, two of whom said the popular mayor may announce the formation of an exploratory committee later this week to run for the Senate seat currently held by 88-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). Booker may have a smoother path to the Senate chamber than the governor’s mansion, given Christie’s lofty standing following Superstorm Sandy. Recent polls have not only shown Christie with sky-high approval ratings, but also a comfortable edge over Booker in hypothetical matchups. 

Still, the Journal’s report indicates that Booker hasn’t ruled out anything yet:

Mr. Booker has been talking about the governor’s race with strategists both steeped in New Jersey politics and independent from it, and he could change his mind at the last minute and still run for the state’s powerful executive position next year, the people said.

“He’s still talking,” one person said about Mr. Booker’s conversations with advisers.

The Journal also suggested that Booker, one of the most popular Twitter users in public office, might make the announcement through a tweet to his more than one million followers on the social-networking website. 

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