Booker, Pallone Line Up Endorsements

Two of the major Democratic contenders in the New Jersey Senate race lined up new supporters on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6) received the endorsement of 21 state and local politicians from Middlesex County, while Newark Mayor Cory Booker received endorsements from state Senate President Steven Sweeney and the South Jersey Democrats.

“Whether it is the fight to increase the federal minimum wage, the work he's done to protect our drinking water for our kids and grandkids or the leadership role he took in securing federal Sandy aid, Frank Pallone is always standing up for New Jersey's middle class,” the Middlesex County politicians said in a joint release.

In a release, Pallone said he was grateful for the endorsement.

“My only mandate each day is to fight for New Jersey's middle class taxpayers and remain undeterred by special interests and the Tea Party conservatives who would attack our Democratic principles,” Pallone said in a release.

Booker was in Deptford Wednesday to receive the endorsement of the South Jersey Democrats, led by state Senate President Steven Sweeney, according to NJ.com.

Booker had previous received the endorsement of southern New Jersey Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.

Pallone is a distant third in recent polls showing Booker with a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, to be held August 13. U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12), who launched a new web ad Wednesday morning, is a distant second, just ahead of Pallone. State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver is a distant fourth.

Pallone also this week lined up the support of State Council of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. The union touts 8,500 members.