Lautenberg not as friendly to gaming as N.J.’s Torricelli

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Democrats have traded one of the gaming industry's greatest allies for a candidate who has not been as cozy with the industry, sources said today.

The state's Democrats late Tuesday selected former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, 78, to replace Sen. Robert Torricelli, who quit his re-election campaign Monday amid an ethics controversy.

Torricelli's seat has been the subject of intense interest because the Democrats control the Senate by one vote. New Jersey Democrats may have trouble getting Lautenberg on the ballot because state laws prevent a party from switching candidates within 51 days of an election.

"I hope he's allowed to run," said Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid, D-Nev., who served with Lautenberg on two committees. "He's a fine person."

Torricelli unfailingly supported and actively advocated gaming industry issues and was well-rewarded in industry campaign cash. Lautenberg at times favored more federal regulation of casinos, but was generally, if more quietly, supportive of the industry that drove the economy of Atlantic City.

"Frank Lautenberg over his years in the Senate wasn't anti-gaming," American Gaming Association president Frank Fahrenkopf said. "He didn't do anything to hurt the industry."

But Fahrenkopf was hard-pressed to think of a memorable stand Lautenberg took for or against the industry.

"He just wasn't very active on gaming issues," Fahrenkopf said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., a former casino executive, said he has long heard from industry sources that Lautenberg cast a critical eye at the industry.

"Certainly, Sen. Lautenberg wouldn't be good for the state of Nevada," Ensign said.

Republicans have been against Lautenberg's candidacy because they believe they can win back the Senate with a victory in New Jersey.

Reid said Lautenberg had been a friend of the gaming industry, but declined to compare him with Torricelli. "They were both good," Reid said.

Torricelli's allegiance with the industry was clear from his campaign coffers. Gaming industry executives and political action committees gave him nearly $128,000 over the last five years, according to watchdog group Citizens for Responsive Politics.

But the industry hardly ignored Lautenberg. From 1993 to 1998, Lautenberg ranked eighth among senators in campaign money from gaming interests, receiving $46,750, according to one Citizens for Responsive Politics study. Torricelli ranked third in that analysis, behind Reid and former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.