Lautenberg Family Stands to Oppose Booker

As the campaign for the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat continues, it is clear that while Newark Mayor Cory Booker may be the front runner for many voters—and for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid—he is not the choice of the Lautenberg family, the Star-Ledger reports.

According to the publication, the bad blood started before Lautenberg's June death, when the veteran senator's staff in December 2012 asked Booker not to announce a run for the Senate seat until after Lautenberg officially announced a planned retirement. Booker refused the request. Now, the Lautenberg family has thrown its support to 6th District U.S. Rep Frank Pallone, who is among Booker's challengers.

Speaking at a July 22 press conference with Pallone, the senator’s widow, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, said ,"Being great on TV and raising money outside of the state doesn’t mean you’re going to be effective in the United States Senate."

Other members of the Lautenberg clan are making their anti-Booker feelings known, according to the article, which noted an early July family statement that called the Newark mayor a "show horse" full of "gimmicks" whom they say does not "share core Democratic values or loyalty to the party."