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The four Republican hopefuls seeking their party's Senate nomination in New Jersey – State Sen. William L. Gormley, U.S. Rep. Robert Franks, local county executive James Treffinger, and college professor Murray Sabrin – are all articulate and ambitious candidates with compelling stories and clearly defined goals. However, with less than a week to go before the June 6 primary, no clear front-runner has emerged, and none of the four candidates have been able to rise above the high-profile fight being waged by Democrats Jon Corzine and Jim Florio.

"Evidently, they are leading very dull private lives." Thomas Giblin, chairman of the N.J. Democratic State Committee, on the lack of personal information that has surfaced in the Corzine-Florio race, despite the use of background checks and private investigators. The Star-Ledger, May 31

• GOP's Candidates Struggle to Be Heard
(Philadelphia Inquirer, May 30)
• More Coverage: N.J. Senate Race

Gormley has the greatest financial advantage with a campaign war chest double that of his GOP rivals, while Franks got a Tuesday endorsement from retiring Republican star Rep. John Kasich (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Budget Committee on which Franks holds a seat.

• Gormley Has Nearly Twice the Cash His GOP Rivals Have
(The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., May 27)
• Franks Gets a Plug From Fellow Budgeteer
(The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., May 31)

Florio Rails Against Corzine's Alleged Use of Investigators
The already bitter Democratic primary fight in New Jersey took yet another nasty turn Wednesday. Former N.J. governor Jim Florio lambasted opponent Jon Corzine for Corzine's use of private detectives to investigate Florio's background, comparing the tactics to "Watergate-era dirty tricks," even as Florio himself has employed "opposition research" on Corzine.
• Florio Criticizes Corzine's 'Spy Games'
(The Bergen Record, May 31)
• Florio Blasts Probe
(The Times, Trenton, N.J., May 31)

Mass. Governor Rakes Legislature With Ad Attack
In the middle of sometimes contentious budget negotiations, Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci (R) will begin Wednesday a $25,000 radio ad campaign denouncing the Democratic-controlled state legislature. Cellucci's ad blitz is unusual for a governor not facing reelection, and Democrats charge it is a ploy to boost his sagging popularity.
• Cellucci Ads Target Pols' 'Animal House' Budget Antics
(Boston Herald, May 31)
• Cellucci Scolds Foes in Ad Attack
(Boston Globe, May 31)

Nomination in Hand, Lazio Boards "Mainstream Express"
Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) may still be ironing out the wrinkles of a hastily formed campaign, but Tuesday evening he officially became the Republican Party's newest star. Capping a whirlwind month, Lazio accepted the GOP's New York Senate nomination before boarding his "Mainstream Express" campaign bus for a three-day swing through the state.
• Lazio Starts Official Race for Senate
(The Buffalo News, May 31)
• Faithful Believe Rick Can Slug Way Up Hill
(New York Daily News, May 31)
• Lazio Ready for the Big Fight
(Albany Times Union, May 31)

If the "express" campaign bus sounds vaguely familiar, there's good reason. The political strategist behind Lazio's rolling attempt to get to know upstate voters is the same man responsible for Arizona Sen. John McCain's wildly successful "Straight Talk Express" during the GOP presidential primary race.
• GOP's Mudmeister Signs Up for Anti-First Lady Duty
(New York Daily News, May 31)