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NEW YORK, NY April 27, 2008 —While the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination continues to divide the national party... New Jersey's Democrats are in the midst of their own battle over a US Senate seat. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: Pundits thought age would be the defining issue in the battle for this June's Senate nomination. But in contest between 84 year-old incumbent Frank Lautenberg and 5O year-old Congressman Rob Andrews, the litmus test appears to be who was the earliest and most vociferous opponent of the war in Iraq. Andrews was an original co-sponsor of the Iraqi Freedom resolution which authorized the war insists by November 2OO6 he called for US withdrawal.

Lautenberg, who did not vote on the war resolution, soon after expressed doubts about the Bush administration's policy in 2003. Also running for Democratic nomination, Morristown Mayor Donald Crestiello best known for wanting to deputize local police to enforce immigration laws.

New Jersey Republicans have three candidates vying for the US Senate nomination. Former Congressman Dick Zimmer, State senator Joe Pennachio, and Ramapo College professor Murray Sabrin. The GOP hasn't held a New Jersey US Senate seat since the 1970s.

For WNYC, I'm Bob Hennelly.