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Quintana said he is supporting Andrews over Sen. Frank Lautenberg in Tuesday's Senate primary because of the congressman's record on the critical issues facing New Jersey and the nation and the need for new leadership and change in the party. He said Andrews would be a more forceful, effective advocate for the city of Newark and the state in Washington.

"Rob Andrews has always been on the front lines on issues of critical concern to hard-working Americans, including the Hispanic community, and I am eager to have him as our advocate in the United States Senate," Quintana said. "The fact that a majority of the City Council in this vibrant and diverse city supports him in the this very important election speaks volumes about how Congressman has connected with the average men and women of this state."

Quintana, who was elected in 1994, is the first Hispanic-American to be elected to an at-large position on the Newark City Council. Previously, he was deputy mayor of Newark. He gained a reputation as an advocate for urban youth through his early work as a youth counselor at the North Ward Center in Newark. He has been a longtime advocate for youth programs and legislation to benefit the young people of the city and surrounding area.

"There is no more important priority for us as a nation to make sure our young people get a quality education and have access to the kinds of after-school programs that provide an alternative to life in the streets," Quintana said. "Rob Andrews has always been committed to those goals, and I'm confident he will continue doing so in the Senate. I urge all Democrats to vote for him in June 3."

Andrews said he was honored to have Quintana's support, calling him one of the most important and effective leaders in Essex County. He said receiving endorsements of a majority of the City Council demonstrates the appeal of his message of change and makes him more eager than ever to fight for their needs in the U.S. Senate.

"It is becoming more and more apparent that Sen. Lautenberg regards this election as a nuisance," Andrews said at a Statehouse news conference. "He seems to believe he deserves a free pass to another term to one of the most important elected positions in our country. He acts as if the Senate seat is his personal birthright – his for lifetime tenure – rather than a position to be earned at the ballot box."

"Whether it's arrogance or fear, Sen. Lautenberg has refused to stand before the Democratic voters of this state to explain why they should return him to Washington," Andrews said. "His refusal to do so is the ultimate sign of disrespect to them. If he either won't – or can't – explain his positions on the issues and his vision for the future during this campaign, how does he expect to defeat the Republican candidate in the November general election? And how can he possibly represent New Jersey over the next six years in the United States Senate?"

Andrews said he believes that his campaign of presenting his detailed positions on the issues to voters throughout New Jersey – contrasted with his opponent's dismissive attitude toward the state – is the reason that he gained the endorsements over the weekend of the Star-Ledger and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He said it was also why countless elected officials and community leaders in North Jersey are supporting him over Lautenberg on the senator's home political turf.

Andrews said that meeting with Democrats across New Jersey has only stiffened his resolve to be the strong, energetic voice residents need on the increasingly serious hardships they face. Hearing their personal stories, whether in diners, union halls, senior centers or college campuses, has made him more eager than ever to roll up his sleeves and represent them in the Senate, Andrews said.

In launching his final week of appeals to Democratic voters, Andrews said the contrast between himself and the incumbent senator could not be any clearer. Perhaps most important, he said, has been their completely different treatment of the voters. Andrews said that he has spent every day of the campaign personally offering New Jersey Democrats his views on critical issues such as skyrocketing gasoline and grocery costs, jobs, health care and education. He has held countless Town Hall meetings throughout the state, appeared at numerous candidate forums and agreed to every one of the more than 10 debate invitations from reputatble news and civic organizations.

Sen. Lautenberg, by contrast, has largely ignored the voters, hiding behind an avalanche of misleading or outright false TV ads and one or two hired PR agents who do all of his speaking for him. The incumbent has refused to participate in all network TV, newspaper and college-sponsored debates. He agreed to show up at one TV debate – on a Friday night, three days before the election, on public television. He declined to participate in all candidate forums where Andrews would be present.

Diaz is a Democrat who defeated incumbent Mayor Joseph Vas by over 30 percentage points earlier this month in a non-partisan election that sent shock waves throughout the state. The political newcomer said she decided to support Rob Andrews for Senate because they share many of the same ideals.

"Congressman Andrews represents change at a time when too many elected officials have forgotten why they were chosen in the first place. Earlier this month, Perth Amboy sent a clear message that it's time for change, it's time for new ideas and its time for leadership based on more than incumbency or complacency.” Diaz continued, "Rob Andrews will bring the same necessary energy and change to the Senate as our candidacy brought to Perth Amboy. I'm proud to be supporting his campaign."

Mayor-Elect Diaz was joined in her endorsement for Andrews by Perth Amboy Councilmen-elect Fernando A. Gonzalez and Kenneth Balut as well as President of the Puerto Rican Patriotic Cultural Committee, Jacqueline Quiles and United for Change Chairman Hector Bonilla.

"Rob Andrews has the energy and leadership America needs to get out of Iraq, to get the economy back on track and to put people back to work," said Councilman-elect Gonzalez. "I am proud to endorse someone whose leadership will bring about on the national level the same kind of changes we are seeking to make locally."

"Only Rob Andrews will deliver the kind of leadership that can change America's course," said Councilman-elect Balut. "We have no need for more of the same as our new senator, he will have the energy and the experience to steer this country in a new direction."

Bonilla said, "As a Latino, I view Rob Andrews' record in supporting and advocating for the Hispanic community in South Jersey as far superior to Frank Lautenberg's. As a Congressman, he has been a great help to our community in his area and I'm excited to see him do the same for the entire state as a Senator."

Diaz became the latest member of a coalition of Middlesex County Democrats in endorsing Congressman Rob Andrews for Senate including Senator Barbara Buono, Senator Joseph Vitale, Senator Bob Smith, Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, Carteret Mayor Dan Rieman, Middlesex Borough Mayor Jerry D'Angelo, East Brunswick Chairman Shawn Taylor and Middlesex Borough Chairman Ron Dimura.

Wilda Diaz, Fernando Gonzalez and Kenneth Balut will be sworn into office on July 1.

"Rob Andrews is exactly what our party needs to move forward in an aggressive way to confront the issues of critical importance to our residents," said Coutinho, who represents District 29 in the Legislature. "It's time to turn the page on the politics that has us mired in gridlock on Capitol Hill. We need a Senator who will transcend the bitter partisanship to bring about solutions – not political posturing."

"Congressman Andrews has a stellar and consistent record of fighting for working-class families," said Scalera, who represents the state's 36th legislative district, which includes the political battleground of Nutley. "Average Americans are facing gasoline and grocery prices that would have seemed unimaginable less than a year ago, quality jobs are going overseas and our health care and education systems are broken. We need a Senator with the energy and vision of Rob Andrews to confront those problems head-on."

Amador said that Andrews has been a tireless advocate of issues important to urban America, especially the need for more and better jobs, housing, and affordable health care and education. "Rob cares deeply about the hardships our people are facing, especially in this punishing economy," Amador said. "The people of New Jersey are fortunate to have a United States Senate candidate with new and innovative ideas, as well as the energy and passion to follow them through."

The endorsements add to the mounting support for Andrews in the northern and central regions of the state, the home turf of his opponent, Sen. Frank Lautenberg. It is unusual for a candidate from outside those areas to attract the backing of such a broad cross-section of political and community leaders. But Andrews has amassed strong backing from Middlesex County north through Hudson, Essex, Bergen and Passaic Counties.

In Newark, for example, Amador is one of four City Council members supporting Andrews' Senate campaign. The others are Dana Rone, Oscar S. James II, and Anibal Ramos Jr. Coutinho's legislative district includes parts of Newark.

Coutinho is vice-chair of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee. He was a member of the Central Planning Board and the Zoning Board in Newark. Scalera chairs the Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee. An expert on public safety issues, Scalera is the deputy fire chief in Nutley and a member of the Governor's Task Force on Community Emergency Response.

Amador is a third-term councilman from Newark's East Ward. His election in 1993 to the Newark Board of Education in made him the first Portuguese-American ever elected in the city. He also served as the city's deputy mayor.

Assemblywoman Oliver's endorsement adds to the groundswell of support for Andrews in North Jersey, which is Sen. Frank Lautenberg's reputed home political base. Numerous state and local elected officials and community leaders in the region have called for Andrews' nomination, citing his commitment to be a forceful advocate for their concerns. They have also called it time to turn the page on Lautenberg, who in seeking reelection is trying to extend his Senate career to 30 years.

"It's time to elect someone with a new, fresh approach to the problems of the people of Essex County and New Jersey," Oliver said. "Congressman Andrews has a solid record of fighting for quality jobs, better housing, and lower education and health care costs for the people in this state. He has been a true friend of those who live in our cities. We need his voice in the U.S. Senate."

Assemblywoman Oliver chairs the Assembly Human Services Committee. Most recently, she was a driving force behind legislation passed by the Assembly to provide expanded services to victims of child abuse and neglect. Before her election to the legislature, she was president of the East Orange Board of Education and a member of the Essex County Board of Freeholders.