Special Election

Republican Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday set an October special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by Democrat Frank Lautenberg's death.  The move means there will be statewide elections three weeks apart.  Democrats say the governor is wasting $12 million by not filling the senator's seat in the November general election.  They say that this move is designed to help the governor's political position by preventing the possibility he would be on the ballot with a well-known Democrat, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who's expected to pursue the Senate seat.
Booker could drive to the polls Democrats who might not otherwise be inclined to turn out for little known Barbara Buono who is running against Christie for Governor.

Christie holds a clear advantage against Buono in terms of polling and funding and a landslide victory would help him make a compelling argument to GOP voters should he seek the presidency.

It appears that the taxpayers of N.J. will have to spend 12 million dollars extra just to keep Christie as the top attraction on November's ballot.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/christie-sets-october-vote-to-replace-lautenberg/article_b88e04d4-70af-5d27-b6c1-a9528fa90e3b.html