Newark’s mayor might soon have a new title: Senator Booker.
Popular Mayor Cory Booker filed legal papers to run as a Democratic candidate to represent New Jersey in the US Senate.
And that’s bad news for incumbent Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who turns 90 next year.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released Thursday showed that Booker could trounce Lautenberg by 2 to 1 if they face off in a Democratic primary in 2014.
Booker, a constant presence on Twitter, has made a name for himself as an education reformer and gained fame by rescuing a constituent from a burning building. Once touted as a gubernatorial candidate, he has maintained good relations with Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Booker was in the doghouse with the White House last year after he called the Obama campaign’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s private equity firm, Bain Capital, “nauseating.” He was serving as an Obama campaign surrogate at the time and Republicans used his criticism to slam Obama.He and Obama have since patched things up.
Jersey politicos believe Booker’s candidacy will force Lautenberg to retire.
“These numbers suggest that some difficult days lie ahead for the incumbent senator should he seek re-election,” said FDU’s polling director, Krista Jenkins.
“Mayor Booker begins his campaign with a healthy amount of public support.”