WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- New Jersey State Sen. Tom Kean, Jr. took a step closer to a 2006 race for U.S. Senate, telling fellow Republicans he is ready to begin raising money.
Kean, the son of former two-term GOP Gov. Tom Kean, said he is opening a federal campaign account, something he described as tantamount to an announcement of candidacy, PoliticsNJ.com said Thursday.
"I'm starting the process of moving the ball forward," he said.
The move positions Kean to head-off other Republicans who might run. "If someone else had an interest, someone probably would have said something by this point," said state GOP finance chairman and Kean family friend Bill Palatucci.
None of New Jersey's six GOP congressmen, who would have to give up their safe House seats to run, appear to be interested in the race.
The GOP has not won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since 1972, the year liberal Republican Clifford Case last won re-election to this seat -- now held by Democrat Jon Corzine, who is running for governor.
