Steven Goldstein

New Jersey’s main gay-rights organization today endorsed incumbent Frank Lautenberg over Rep. Rob Andrews in the Democratic Senate primary.

The group’s chairman, Steven Goldstein, said that both were “outstanding” candidates, but that they would stick with the tried-and-true Lautenberg, who has been “our greatest champion of equality.”

Goldstein cited Lautenberg’s coauthoring of the Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990, and his fight for increased federal funding for HIV and AIDS treatment since then.

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Garden State Equality Chairman Steven Goldstein, the leader of the state's largest marriage equality advocacy group, today welcomed the presence in New Jersey of a group opposed to gay civil unions.

"If this group is going to spend time and money in New Jersey, arguably the country's bluest state, let them," said Goldstein, of Common Sense America, which is headed up by Brian Brown, the former executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut. more >

The majority of New Jersey voters say that they would not be upset if the state legalized gay marriage, according to a Zogby Poll commissioned by Garden State Equality, a gay advocacy group.

63% of those polled said that they would have no problem if “public officials in New Jersey come to the conclusion that civil unions for gay couples have not worked to provide equality under the law” and granted gay couples the right to marry.

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State Sen. Loretta Weinberg may have put aside hostilities with Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero back in April, but she’s not going to let up on criticizing him.

“He’s been a very prolific fundraiser. He has worked hard to get Democrats elected, and I give him a lot of credit for that,” said Weinberg. “But I would like the organization to be about something more than fundraising and who gets what contract.”

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The leader of New Jersey's largest gay rights organization has endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Steven Goldstein, the Chairman of Garden State Equality, said that Clinton is his personal choice, and that his organization will not make an endorsement before the February 5, 2008 New Jersey primary.

"I wish all the presidential candidates with a realistic shot to win the nomination were pro-marriage equality. None are. Within that context, Senator Clinton's support for the LGBTI community is as strong as any of the other candidates who have the most realistic shot to win," said Goldstein, who managed Jon Corzine's 2000 U.S. Senate campaign.

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Sure, Hillary has a huge advantage in New Jersey, and she already has the backing of the state’s two most powerful elected leaders. But nothing’s certain, and if any other candidates hope to pull an upset, they’ll likely need the backing of these important Democrats who have not yet picked a horse.

This early in the race, the most important endorsements will come from political figures who can create buzz and raise money, according to Ingrid Reed Director of the New Jersey Project at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Closer to February, politicians with more grass roots support will have a greater impact.

“The purpose of these early endorsements… basically is to boost the person’s candidacy among leadership,” said Reed. “Because they’re the people who are paying attention.”

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