Ashcroft chose not to oppose the Widow Carnahan despite the clear legal issues in his favor. His charity was rewarded by the Widow handing over all the dirt her husband dug up on Ashcroft to the confirmation committee for their smear campaign against Ashcroft. The lesson here is nice guys finish last. Mr. Olson, clear your desk of other cases you are needed in New Jersey now.

I am in NJ. If the dems get to choose a replacement, he/she will win. This is a state with many morons.

Consolidating my planned comments from your multiple posts about the Torch:



1) does the Torch in fact get to keep his campaign contributions? I saw a news article that stated that he was in meetings all morning talking with national and state democratic leaders, and among the points of discussion was whether his remaining campaign funds could be "transferred" to the new candidate, assuming that this person is cleared by the courts to run.



2) This wasn't an overnight decision, as the ethics decision came down a while back and the Torch has been slipping steadily since. If it was so darned important to meet the 51 day deadline (or 48 day deadline, depending on what you read), why did he wait to the 36 day mark? Seems like right after Labor Day was the time to do this.



3) UNLESS -- the Dems are angling for the 30 day replacement rule. The governor could name a replacement for the unexpired term of office. Is that person then automatically put onto the ballot? Or would they call a special election? In that case the replacement would be sure to be on the ballot.



4) The timing is not an accident, and it isn't the result of the Torch -- all of a sudden -- losing his nerve. Given the stuff he's done in the past, a loss of nerve is inconceivable.



So either the Dems have a plan, or (option b) there's one hell of a big story about to break that would ruin Toricelli completely, and he's just getting out ahead of time.

The big rumor is that a story is about to break about him receiving money from mob figures.