Booker Opens Albany Street Campaign Office

Newark Mayor and Senate candidate Cory Booker was in New Brunswick on Saturday afternoon for the opening of his campaign's newest office, located at 120 Albany St.

Booker, 44, is running against three Democrats for a Senate seat: U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Burlington/Camden), U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-Middlesex) and Sheila Oliver, speaker of the State Assembly.

The unexpired term was left vacant by the June death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Republicans Steve Lonegan, former mayor of Bogota and Piscataway physician Alietta Eck have also submitted petitions to run for the seat, according to an article on Northjersey.com. 

Clad in jeans and a sports coat, the charismatic Booker shook hands and posed for photos with the crowd, to whom he extended a "deep and soul penetrating Thank you" for willing to be a part of the campaign.

Booker said that he is hearing from people on the campaign trail who want to bring the U.S. back to its "core principals," such as safe neighborhoods, adequate care for seniors, and strong schools. 

"Every generation has made full and better the promise of America," Booker said. "And now it's our turn."

When asked on where he stands on the issue of marriage equality in New Jersey, Booker said that if enough seats are won in the legislature by people who support it, vetoes put forth by Gov. Chris Christie can be overturned. 

"Government should not create two classes of citizens," Booker said. "One person is standing in the way of equality and freedom."

A June poll released by the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University showed Booker as the favored Democratic candidate for the seat. 

On Thursday, Booker's team announced that they had raised $4.6 million for his Senate campaign. 

The primary election is scheduled for August 13, with a general election scheduled for Oct. 16. 

New Brunswick is the newest field office for the Booker campaign, but offices are set to open in Plainfield, Woodlawn Park, Morristown, Egg Harbor Township, Monmouth, Montclair, Jersey City and Vineland by July 19, according to a press release from Booker's campaign team.

Offices are currently open in Newark, Hackensack and Cherry Hill, according to the release.