N.J. Republican proposes debates

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. -- Even as Republicans contested Frank N. Lautenberg's effort to get his name on the ballot in a bid for the Senate, the GOP candidate challenged the Democrat Saturday to a series of debates.

Approaching Lautenberg at a street fair, Douglas Forrester borrowed a page from the former senator's first campaign in 1978 in challenging him to 21 debates -- one for each county. "Are you willing?" he asked.

"I thought you didn't want me to be a candidate," Lautenberg countered. Later, he said he would debate Forrester "any place, any time."

The U.S. Supreme Court had not decided Saturday whether to review a state high court ruling allowing Democrats to substitute Lautenberg for Sen. Robert Torricelli on the New Jersey ballot.

Torricelli, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, sank in the polls following a rebuke by Senate colleagues over allegations of unethical conduct. He ended his troubled candidacy Monday, saying he wanted to spare his party a possible loss of its one-seat hold on the Senate.

Republicans contend that replacing Torricelli with Lautenberg so close to the Nov. 5 election is illegal. Forrester, 49, said he made the debate offer in case the high court disagrees.

"We don't know how the Supreme Court is going to rule," Forrester said. "It would be better for the country if the Democrats lost."

Lautenberg -- who was taunted by Forrester supporters shouting "Lawbreaker!" -- claims Republican attempts to keep him off the ballot are meant to distract voters from Forrester's shaky platform.

"We took away the Forrester platform, which was Bob Torricelli," said Lautenberg, 78.

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On the Net:

Forrester campaign: http://www.forrester2002.com

New Jersey Democrats: http://www.njdems.org