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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
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"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court contemplated stopping a candidate switch in a New Jersey race crucial to Republicans' effort to retake the Senate.
Justices could say as early as Friday if they will intervene in a case remarkably similar to 2000's Bush v. Gore.
New Jersey's highest court already unanimously cleared the replacement of battered incumbent Robert Torricelli with a retired senator recruited to help Democrats retain the seat. Frank Lautenberg, 78, was campaigning Thursday as Republicans filed papers trying to keep him off the Nov. 5 ballot.
"These are different cases, different people, different rights involved," said GOP attorney Ben Ginsberg, who also worked on President Bush ( news - web sites)'s legal team two years ago, downplaying similarities.
At the same time, the GOP argued in filings with the Supreme Court that the 2000 presidential election fight in Florida set a precedent for the court to get involved in state election fights.
"The Republicans have a successful play book and they're going right back to it," said John Siegal, a New York attorney involved in Democratic campaigns.
Republicans argue it's too close to Election Day to replace Torricelli and that the Democrats should not be allowed to dump a candidate just because he's trailing. Torricelli's ethics problems had become the focus of the race after he was admonished by the Senate.
"If the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, political parties will be encouraged to withdraw losing candidates on the eve of election, replacing them with candidates who have not gone through the rigors of the nomination process in hopes of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat," the GOP filing said.
There was no immediate word whether the justices would block the lower court ruling or agree to hear the Republicans' broader constitutional complaints. The court asked the New Jersey Democratic Party to respond in writing to the GOP's legal filing.
New Jersey law bars replacement of candidates less than 48 days before an election, the GOP said. The lower court ruling would switch the candidates 33 days before Election Day, the party said.
Democrats control the Senate by one seat, so the New Jersey race could be key in next month's elections.
Lautenberg, who retired from the Senate in 2001 after three terms, greeted commuters at a rail station in Hoboken, N.J., on Thursday. He then traveled to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and national labor leaders.
On Monday, Torricelli said he would drop out of the campaign against Republican challenger Douglas Forrester out of concern that a New Jersey loss could cost his party the Senate.
Forrester was a virtual unknown before his nomination, but made rapid gains as voters soured on Torricelli. Torricelli was admonished by the Senate this summer after an ethics investigation.
The high court heard two election-related cases after the too-close-to-call voting in 2000. The Bush v. Gore case ended ballot recounts in Florida sought by Democrat Al Gore ( news - web sites) and effectively called the election for George W. Bush.
Richard Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the court has far less reason to get involved this time around, and justices may be gun-shy.
"It may well end with a fizzle instead of a bang like last time," said Hasen, who consulted with the Gore campaign in 2000.
Thursday's Supreme Court filing calls the state court ruling unconstitutional and asks the court to place it on hold.
Republicans argued the lower court violates the Constitution's requirement that state legislatures set the "times, places and manner" of congressional elections. In this case, the New Jersey court usurped that power, the GOP contended.
Republicans also contended the state court decision could improperly strip voting rights from New Jersey residents overseas, such as those serving abroad in the military. About 1,700 absentee and military ballots have already been mailed with Torricelli's name on them.
The state GOP has also said it plans to pursue the overseas ballot issue in a separate case to be filed in federal court in New Jersey.
California's secretary of state plans to file a friend of the court brief on the issue Friday, said a spokeswoman for Republican Bill Jones.
The Supreme Court case is 02-A-289.
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