IF ROTHMAN EVER MOVES UP, HE WOULD DO SO WITH KASPARIAN’S SUPPORT, SAYS NEW CHAIR
By Max Pizarro

PolitickerNJ
max/26761/if-rothman-ever-moves-he-would-do-so-kas parians-support-says-new-chair
Jan 23 2009
NJ

HACKENSACK – New Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman
Michael Kasparian said he would support U.S. Steve Rothman (D-Fair
Lawn) should Rothman at some time in the future see an opportunity
to pursue a run for a vacant U.S. Senate seat.

"If he ever ran for Senate, he would have my support," Kasparian told
PolitickerNJ.com. "I am all about Bergen."

The remark came to a question within the context of some statewide
intra-party wrangling that goes back to last year’s U.S. Senate
primary.

When then-BCDO Chairman Joe Ferriero appeared poised to endorse
U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights), Rothman moved quickly.

Rather than conspiring with South Jersey to topple U.S. Sen. Frank
Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park), Rothman believed the Bergen County
party chairman should refrain from endorsing until a vacancy occured.

Of course, as a congressman from Bergen County, Rothman hoped that
in such circumstances, he would be in a favorable position to win
the county chairman’s endorsement for U.S. Senate.

He helped prevent Ferriero from backing Andrews, thereby assisting
the reelection of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park).

But with Ferriero’s departure this month to face federal corruption
charges and the arrival to the chairmanship of Michael Kasparian,
sources close to Rothman say he wanted assurance he could depend on
Kasparian’s backing in the future in the event the congressman sees
an oppurtunity to run for the Senate.

Well-positioned with money and his congressional record to make his own
move in the event of a U.S. Senate vacancy, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone
(D-Long Branch) also enjoys a good relationship with the Armenian
community, according to Bergen sources.

Concern among Rothman allies was that the Pallone connection could
translate into the Monmouth County politician gaining an edge with
Kasparian, who insists that his ethnic community is one group and
his party affiliation another.

The new chairman reiterated his position on the matter.

"We’re friends," Kasparian said of Pallone. "But I’m all about Bergen."